|
Daniel Júnior playing for Akhmat Grozny in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel de Melo Araújo Júnior | ||
| Date of birth | 9 May 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Santo André, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Portuguesa (on loan from Vitória) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2021 | Palmeiras | ||
| 2021–2022 | Cruzeiro | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Cruzeiro | 45 | (5) |
| 2023–2024 | → Akhmat Grozny (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2024– | Vitória | 8 | (1) |
| 2024 | → América Mineiro (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2025– | → Portuguesa (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:55, 30 January 2025 (UTC) | |||
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Daniel de Melo Araújo Júnior (born 9 May 2002), known as Daniel Júnior, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Portuguesa, on loan from Vitória.
Career
Early career
Born in Santo André, São Paulo, Daniel Júnior began his career with Palmeiras, signing his first professional contract with the club on 6 September 2019. On 20 March 2021, however, after failing to make his breakthrough in the under-20 team, he rescinded his link, and joined Cruzeiro on 11 May.
Cruzeiro
After impressing with the under-20s, Daniel Júnior made his first team debut with the Raposa on 5 February 2022, coming on as a late substitute for Matheus Bidu in a 2–1 Campeonato Mineiro away win over Caldense. He scored his first goal for the club seven days later, netting the opener in a 3–0 success at Tombense.
Daniel Júnior became a starter under head coach Paulo Pezzolano, but was sent back to the under-20 squad in May 2022, after failing to sign a new contract. On 26 May, he returned to the first team after signing a new deal until 2025.
After Pezzolano's departure, Daniel Júnior had limited playing time under new head coach Pepa.
Loan to Akhmat Grozny
On 11 September 2023, Daniel Júnior joined Russian Premier League club Akhmat Grozny on loan with an option to buy. He made his debut abroad twelve days later, replacing compatriot Camilo in a 1–0 away loss to Baltika Kaliningrad.
Daniel Júnior officially left Akhmat by mutual consent on 9 February 2024.
Vitória
In February 2024, Daniel Júnior signed a three-year deal with Vitória for a rumoured fee of US$ 500,000. However, he failed to establish himself as a regular unit at the club.
Loan to América Mineiro
On 7 August 2024, Daniel Júnior was announced at América Mineiro on loan until the end of the year. He left the club in December, after a loan extension was not agreed.
Loan to Portuguesa
On 3 January 2025, Portuguesa announced the signing of Daniel Júnior on loan.
Career statistics
- As of 30 January 2025
| Club | Season | League | State league | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cruzeiro | 2022 | Série B | 25 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 | ||
| 2023 | Série A | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| Total | 29 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 5 | ||||
| Akhmat Grozny (loan) | 2023–24 | Russian Premier League | 4 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Vitória | 2024 | Série A | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 12 | 3 | |
| América Mineiro (loan) | 2024 | Série B | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | ||||
| Portuguesa (loan) | 2025 | Série D | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 47 | 3 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 82 | 9 | ||
- ^ Includes Campeonato Mineiro, Campeonato Baiano, Campeonato Paulista
- ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Russian Cup
- ^ Appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste
Honours
Cruzeiro
References
- ^ "Artilheiro do Palmeiras no Paulista sub-17 assina primeiro contrato profissional com o time" [Top scorer of Palmeiras in the Paulista sub-17 signs first professional contract with the club] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Crias da Academia: Companheiro de Gabriel Veron no sub-17, Daniel Melo deixa o Palmeiras" [Crias da Academia: Gabriel Veron's partner in the under-17s, Daniel Melo leaves Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Ex-Palmeiras, Daniel Melo assina com o Cruzeiro" [Formerly of Palmeiras, Daniel Melo signs with Cruzeiro] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Celeste. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Daniel Jr., do Cruzeiro, lembra que passou fome com a família e quase desistiu do futebol; vídeo" [Daniel Jr., from Cruzeiro, remembers that he went hungry with his family and almost gave up on football; video] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ "Daniel Jr comenta felicidade no Cruzeiro: 'Estou vivendo um sonho'" [Daniel Jr talks about happiness at Cruzeiro: 'I am living a dream'] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Daniel Júnior ganha destaque no equipe do Cruzeiro e confiança do técnico Paulo Pezzolano" [Daniel Júnior earns a spotlight at Cruzeiro and the trust of head coach Paulo Pezzolano] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Daniel Jr treina com sub-20 do Cruzeiro, e diretor fala sobre renovação" [Daniel Jr trains with the under-20 of Cruzeiro, and director talks about renewal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Super Esportes. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Cruzeiro e Daniel Jr. renovam contrato até o fim de 2025" [Cruzeiro and Daniel Jr. renew contract until the end of 2025] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ ""Ахмат" подписал футболиста из чемпионата Бразилии" [Akhmat signed a footballer from Brazil championship] (in Russian). FC Akhmat Grozny. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ "Футбольный клуб "Ахмат" и бразильский легионер Даниэль Жуниор расторгли контракт по согласию сторон" [Football club "Akhmat" and Brazilian legionnaire Daniel Junior terminated the contract by mutual agreement.]. FC Akhmat Grozny (in Russian). Telegram. 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Vitória fecha compra de Daniel Jr. em R$ 2,5 milhões; veja detalhes da negociação com o Cruzeiro" [Vitória agree transfer of Daniel Jr. in R$ 2.5 million; see details of the negotiation with Cruzeiro] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "América-MG anuncia Daniel Jr., ex-Vitória e Cruzeiro" [América-MG announce Daniel Jr., formerly of Vitória and Cruzeiro] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "América tenta, mas não consegue renovar empréstimos de três jogadores, que voltam a seus clubes" [América try, but cannot renew loans of three players, who return to their clubs] (in Brazilian Portuguese). O Tempo. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Daniel Jr é o novo reforço da Lusa para 2025" [Daniel Jr is the new addition of Lusa for 2025] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Associação Portuguesa de Desportos. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ Daniel Júnior at Soccerway
