HOW ACQUIRED: Signed a Generation adidas contract; selected No. 1 overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft

Pereira is a tenacious box-to-box midfielder who plays a No. 8 role, impacts the game both in possession and in defense and is comfortable between lines. In two seasons at Virginia Tech he had six goals and six assists in 26 matches.

COLLEGE: Pereira spent two seasons with Virginia Tech (2019-20), making 26 appearances (26 starts) for the Hokies, where he scored six goals and added six assists. The midfielder tallied five goals and five assists during his freshman season in 2019 (19 starts in 19 matches played), earning All-ACC Freshman honors in 2019. As a sophomore in 2020, Pereira started in all seven of the team’s Fall matches, scoring one goal and contributing one assist.

YOUTH: Prior to joining Virginia Tech, the native of Caracas, Venezuela, played soccer for Northside High School in Roanoke, VA. He was named Timesland player of the year as a senior, scoring 44 goals and leading the team to the Class 3 state final. Pereira and his family emigrated to the United States when Pereira was a teenager.