João Paulo

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2023 (Seattle): After recovering from his ACL injury by the start of the season, João Paulo made his return as a substitute during the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, playing 22 minutes. The Brazilian appeared in 31 matches (30 starts) during the regular season, tallying five assists. João Paulo also started all four of Seattle’s playoff matches, recording one assist against FC Dallas.

2022 (Seattle): João Paulo recorded one goal and one assists in six starts in MLS regular season play prior to tearing his ACL in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions League Final (May 4). He also started six of seven appearances in CCL action prior to the injury.

2021 (Seattle): João Paulo had a breakout second season with Sounders FC, earning a MLS All-Star, MLS Best XI and Team MVP honors, in addition to being one of five finalists for Landon Donovan MLS MVP. The Brazilian started 28 of 31 regular-season appearances, recording three goals and 11 assists (tied for sixth in MLS). A two-way standout in midfield, João Paulo finished fifth league-wide in touches (2,463), while ranking first in tackles won (42), second in interceptions (36) and third in duels won (176) among players with at least 10 assists. The set piece specialist ranked second in MLS with 42 chances created from set plays and tied for third with six assists from set plays. Two of his goals were in contention for the AT&T 5G Goal of the Year, including an incredible individual effort against the Colorado Rapids (October 3).

2020 (Seattle): João Paulo joined Seattle on January 31, 2020, starting 17 of his 19 appearances during the pandemic-shortened season. The Brazilian recorded an assist in his MLS first match as a member of the Rave Green, coming against the Chicago Fire on March 1. He scored his first goal as a Sounder on October 3 against Vancouver in a 3-1 win over the Canadian side. He went on to total two goals and five assists in his inaugural season. He also recorded two goals in Seattle’s two CCL appearances.

2019 (Botafogo): In his final season with Botafogo, João Paulo made 36 league appearances in Brazil’s Série A, recording three goals as the club finished 15^th in the table with 43 points (13-21-4). He also played four games in the Copa Sudamericana before Botafogo fell in the Round of 16, as well as a pair of matches in the Copa de Brasil. João Paulo appeared in seven matches in the Campeonato Carioca, recording one goal.

2018 (Botafogo): João Paulo made 15 appearances across all competitions, including 12 in league play as his club finished ninth in the table with 51 points (13-13-12). He appeared twice as a substitute in Botafogo’s title run in the Campeonato Carioca, as well as once in Copa de Brasil action.

2017 (Botafogo): In his first season with Botafogo, João Paulo made 55 appearances across all competitions, including 30 matches in league play with two goals as the club finished 10^th in the table with 53 points (14-13-11). He appeared in 13 matches in Copa Libertadores play, as Botafogo advanced to the Quarterfinals before falling to Grêmio 1-0 on aggregate. João Paulo also made six substitute appearances in the club’s run to the Semifinals of the Copa de Brasil before falling to Flamento 1-0 on aggregate. In the Copeonato Carioca, a competition featuring all Brazilian clubs located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, João Paulo played in six matches as Botafogo finished fourth.

2016 (Santa Cruz): In his second and final season with Santa Cruz, João Paulo made 34 appearances and scored two goals as the club finished 19^th in the table with 31 points (8-23-7) and was relegated following the campaign. He started all 10 of his appearances and scored two goals in the Campeonato Pernambucano as Santa Cruz won its second consecutive title in the competition among teams in the state of Pernambucano. He also appeared in 10 matches and helped Santa Cruz capture the 2016 Copa de Noreste championship. João Paulo played in all three of Botafogo’s matches in the Copa de Brasil and Copa Sudamericana.

2015 (Santa Cruz): João Paulo appeared in 34 games and scored one goal in Série B play in 2015, as Santa Cruz finished second with 67 points (20-11-7) and gained promotion following the season. He also started all 11 matches in Cameonato Pernambucano action as Santa Cruz captured the title in the competition among teams in the state of Pernambucano.

2014 (Goiás): In his lone season with Goiás, João Paulo made five league appearances in Série A and seven in Campeonato Goiano, helping the club to a second-place finish in the latter. He also made one appearance in Copa de Brasil action.

2013 (Atlético Goianiense): After being loaned from Internacional to Atlético Goianiense, João Paulo appeared in 35 games in Série B action and scored a career-high four goals in league play, in addition to three appearances in the Copa de Brasil. He also started all 10 of his appearances in the Campeonato Goiano as Atlético finished second.

2012 (Internacional): In his final full season with Internacional, João Paulo made 22 appearances across all competitions, including 14 in a title run in the Campeonato Gaucho. He also made four appearances with one start in Copa Libertadores action.

2011 (Internacional): João Paulo made 15 appearances across all competitions, including 14 in Série A play, his first career topflight action. He also appeared in one match in the Campeonato Gaucho as Internacional won the first of six consecutive titles. He was included on the bench in the second leg of the 2011 Recopa Sudoamericana (a matchup between the winners of the 2010 Copa Libertadores and 2011 Copa Sudoamericana), in which Internacional defeated Uruguayan side Independiente 4-3 on aggregate.

2010 (Internacional): In his first professional season, João Paulo made three appearances in Campeonato Gaucho action. João Paulo did not appear in the tournament, but Internacional won its second Copa Libertadores championship in 2010.

ACQUIRED

Signed by Sounders FC as a Designated Player on January 31, 2020.