Biography
Experienced striker Joao Pedro was a free agent when he joined Hull City in September 2024 and made his debut a fortnight later against Norwich City, scoring a late goal that was disallowed for a phantom handball. A static presence up front under Tim Walter, Pedro sprang into life under Ruben Selles from December 2024 onwards and rolled back the years with skillful linkup play and a pleasing use of the dark arts, also contributing crucial goals as the Tigers sought to move away from the relegation places.
Joao Pedro Geraldino dos Santos Galvao was born in Ipatinga, a new town in central eastern Brazil that was created in the 1960s to provide a focus for the country’s steel manufacturing industry. Joao came through the junior ranks at Atletico Mineiro, a top flight Brazilian side based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s third largest city located 100 miles east of his home town. He made his senior debut in a May 2010 Serie A match against Atletico Paranaense and by August 2010 he had made 13 senior appearances.
Joao quickly impressed European scouts and in August 2010 a 2.5 million euro fee facilitated his moved to Palermo, an Italian Serie A side based on the island of Sicily. He made his debut for the Eagles in an August 2010 Europa League tie against Sparta Prague and made his Serie A debut in against Cagliari in January 2011. Days after that debut Joao joined Portuguese Primeira Liga side Vitoria Guimaraes on loan for the remainder of the 2010/11 season – he made 6 appearances for Vitoria between February and April 2011 before his loan was terminated after an angry on-pitch reaction to being substituted.
In August 2011 Joao joined Uruguayan top flight side Penarol on a year-long loan, he debuted days later against Cerro Largo and scored his first senior goal two weeks later against Racing Club Montevideo. By May 2012 he had scored seven goals in 23 appearances for Penarol across two part-seasons. After a brief return to Palermo Joao left the Italian side in July 2012 having made just 4 appearances in two years.
In July 2012 Pedro joined Brazilian giants Santos where he made 10 appearances between July and October 2012. He was not used in the Santos first team during the 2013 season and in July 2013 he moved to Portuguese Primeira Liga side Estoril. He debuted in an August 2013 Europa League tie against Israeli side Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim and scored his first goal for Estoril a few weeks later in a League match against Arouca. Joao finally found his feet in Portugal and during the 2013/14 season he scored nine goals in all competitions, helping his side to a top four finish. By the end of August 2014 Joao Pedro had scored ten goals in 44 appearances for Estoril.
On the August 2014 deadline day Joao Pedro decided to return to Italy, a one million euro fee was paid by Sardinian side Cagliari. The Italian island life suited Joao much better second time around and he went on to be a pivotal player for Cagliari over the next eight years. He made his Serie A debut in September 2014 against Atalanta and ended his first season with six goals as the Islanders were relegated to Serie B. A regular starter during the 2015/16 season, Joao scored thirteen goals, including an April 2016 hattrick against Brescia, as Cagliari won the Serie B title and returned to the top flight. A leg fracture saw him miss three months of the 2016/17 season but he still contributed seven goals as the side consolidated in the lower half of the Serie A table, then red card suspensions and a six month doping ban saw him miss a chunk of the 2017/18 season. When that ban ended in September 2018 Joao knuckled down and became a first team regular – he was Cagliari’s top scorer in the League for three consecutive seasons, peaking with 19 goals in the 2019/20 season. He was handed the captain’s armband for the 2020/21 season but the 2021/22 season ended in relegation back to Serie B and Joao decided to seek pastures new – in eight seasons he scored 87 goals in 271 appearances for Cagliari.
In July 2022 Joao joined Turkish giants Fenerbahce on a three year deal, the fee was reported to be 6.5 million euro. He scored five goals in 28 appearances during the 2022/23 season but in August 2023 he agreed to join Brazilian top flight side Gremio on a twelve month loan. He scored three goals in 45 appearances for Gremio between August 2023 and July 2024, when he left the club and terminated his contract at Fenerbahce. He had been a free agent for two months when he signed for Hull City in September 2024.
As a youngster at Atletico Mineiro Joao was selected regularly for the Brazil under-17 squad, scoring once in 11 appearances that included three October 2009 appearances in the 2009 Under-17 World Cup finals hosted in Nigeria. Thirteen years later, at the height of his powers at Cagliari, Joao was called up to the Italy senior squad – he qualified for the Italy side through marriage – and won his only senior cap in March 2022 against North Macedonia, playing the final few minutes after coming off the bench.
Details
Nationality: Italy
Date/Place of Birth: 9 March 1992, Ipatinga (Brazil)
Hull City First Game: 5 October 2024, Norwich City A (Championship), 32 years, 210 days old
Hull City Final Game: [current player]
Clubs
Atletico Mineiro (2008-2010), Palermo (2010-2012), Vitoria Guimaraes (2011, loan), Penarol (2011-2012, loan), Santos (2012-2013), Estoril (2013-2014), Cagliari (2014-2022), Fenerbahce (2022-2024), Gremio (2023-2024, loan), Hull City (2024-current)
Hull City Record
Career: 20 apps, 5 goals
Joao Pedro| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 15 (4) | 5 | 1 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |