João Pedro spent most of his career with Serie A club Cagliari from 2014 to 2022, where he was the captain, making 271 appearances and scoring 86 goals for the club. He won Serie B in 2016 and played for seven seasons in Serie A. Additionally, he had brief spells in the top divisions of Brazil, Portugal, Uruguay and Turkey.
Born in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, João Pedro joined the youth ranks of Atlético Mineiro in April 2006,[1] and made his competitive first team debut on 23 May 2010 in a game against Atlético Paranaense.[5] His successive good performances then led head coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo to regularly select him for the Brazilian league games held between May and August 2010, also switching him from his original position of second striker to an attacking midfielder role.[5]
On 29 January 2011, Vitória Guimarães announced the signing of João Pedro on loan for the remainder of the season.[8] He was sent back on 4 April for disciplinary reasons, after reacting angrily to being substituted in the first half against Sporting CP.[9]
On 19 August 2011, Palermo loaned João Pedro to Uruguayan club Peñarol.[10] He scored six times in his spell in Montevideo, including two on 24 September in a 4–0 win at neighbours River Plate that put his team on top of the table.[11]
Santos
João Pedro returned to his homeland on 5 July 2012, signing with Santos until 2014. The club purchased 20% of his economic rights from Traffic Sports Marketing, and had priority to buy 30% more.[12]
Estoril
On 1 July 2013, after not featuring with the first team in 2013 season, João Pedro rescinded with Santos and signed a one-year deal with Estoril.[13] He scored eight times in his only full season for the Lisbon District club as they came fourth, including two on 1 March 2014 in a 4–0 home win over Olhanense.[14]
Cagliari
João Pedro in 2022
João Pedro returned to Serie A on 30 August 2014, signing for Cagliari for around €1 million and exchange with Matías Cabrera.[15] The team suffered relegation in his first season, but he scored 13 times in 38 games as they won the 2015–16 Serie B, including a hat-trick in a 6–0 home win over Brescia on 16 April.[16]
In August 2017, João Pedro signed a new contract to last until 2021.[17] The following 16 May, he was given a six-month ban after testing positive for banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide following a match against Sassuolo in February.[18]
João Pedro signed a new contract in November 2018, to last until 2022;[19] a year later, this was extended until 2023.[20] On 21 December 2019 he scored in a 2–1 loss at Udinese to reach 50 for the Sardinians, seventh in their all-time scorers.[21] He finished joint-fifth in the league's top scorers with 18, his best campaign.[22]
As Radja Nainggolan returned to Inter, João Pedro became the club captain for 2020–21. In November, he reached 200 appearances for the club.[23] His 16 goals helped the team avoid relegation, and put him 10th in the season's scorers.[24]
In 2021–22, João Pedro was the league's joint seventh top scorer with 13 goals, while Cagliari were relegated.[25] This included both goals of a 2–2 comeback draw at home to Spezia in the opening game on 23 August,[26] and a further brace on 17 October to defeat Sampdoria 3–1 at the Unipol Domus.[27]
Fenerbahçe
On 21 July 2022, João Pedro joined Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe on a three-year deal.[28] The fee was reported by Italy's Sky Sport to be €6.5 million.[29]
Loan to Grêmio
On 1 August 2023, Grêmio announced an agreement for the signing of João Pedro, pending on medical examinations.[30]
Hull City
On 26 September 2024, João Pedro joined EFL Championship club Hull City on an initial one-year contract with the option for a further twelve months.[31] He made his debut on 5 October 2024 when he came off the bench as a 72nd-minute substitute for Chris Bedia in the 0–4 loss away to Norwich City.[32]
In early 2021, it was speculated João Pedro, an Italian citizen by marriage, might be called up by the Italy national team. In November that year, he openly stated his potential interest in the opportunity.[33] On 5 January 2022, FIFA allowed him to play for Italy.[34] Later that month, he was formally called up by Roberto Mancini for a three-day training camp in Coverciano.[35]
João Pedro has two children with his Italian wife, originally from Palermo, whom he met during his footballing stay in Sicily.[38][39] In 2017, he acquired Italian citizenship through marriage.[40]
^"João Pedro chega e já deve estrear no Santos" [João Pedro arrives and already must debut for Santos]. Folha de Londrina (in Portuguese). 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
^Lai, Roberta (11 November 2020). "Joao Pedro, 200 volte in rossoblù" [João Pedro, 200 times in red and blue] (in Italian). Cagliari News. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
^"L'ALTRA META' DI... ...Joao Pedro" [THE OTHER SIDE OF... ...João Pedro] (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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