CHARLOTTE, NC (Monday, December 13, 2021) – Charlotte FC today announced the Club has signed Vinicius Mello from Brazilian side Sport Club Internacional to a contract until 2025 with a Club option for 2026. The move is pending receipt of a P-1 visa and ITC.
The 19-year-old forward will occupy an international roster slot on the Club’s inaugural roster. Mello becomes the Club’s first U-22 initiative player. Full details on this initiative can be found here.
The Internacional academy product debuted for the senior team in February 2021 by starting and playing 72 minutes in a 1-0 victory against Juventude in the Campeonato Gaúcho. Shortly after making his senior debut, Mello began working under the leadership of current CLTFC head coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez.
Mello played 13 times for Internacional in 2021, including 8 matches in Serie A and 3 in the prestigious Copa Libertadores.
“We’re excited to bring in a player of Vinicius’ potential to Charlotte FC. He’s been a proven goal scorer in the youth ranks at Internacional, but is still very new to senior football despite already playing in the Brazilian topflight and Copa Libertadores,” said sporting director Zoran Krneta. “We’re eager to get him to Charlotte to continue his development as a footballer because he possesses all the qualities we are looking for in a center forward. He is very good with his back to goal, he likes to get teammates involved with combination play in the buildup, and he is an intelligent mover off the ball. This is a strategic and calculated signing because we have a head coach who knows him well, trained him and believes in him as a footballer.”
Since 2020, the young Brazilian has played in 28 games for the Internacional U20 side, scoring 15 goals. He first played for the U20s as a 16-year-old in 2019.
Transaction: Charlotte FC signs Vinicius Mello from Sport Club Internacional.
Name: Vinicius Mello
Position: Forward
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 185 lbs
Date of Birth: August 19, 2002
Age: 19
Birthplace: Sapucaia do Sul, Brazil
Last Club: Sport Club Internacional
How Acquired: Permanent transfer from Sport Club Internacional
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