TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
FC Dallas mutually terminated the contract of their starting goalkeeper this month after alleged incidents of domestic abuse. On Tuesday, the club announced the signing of a goalkeeper out of Brazilian club Gremio.
FCD has signed goalkeeper Phelipe Megiolaro on loan from Gremio through the 2020 season. Megiolaro will occupy an international roster spot pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). FC Dallas has the option to exercise a permanent transfer on Megiolaro’s contract in December 2020 following the duration of the loan.
Megiolaro joins FC Dallas after rising through Gremio’s youth system. He also spent time in Campinas and Ponte Preta’s youth systems. Megiolaro signed his professional contract with Gremio on December 5, 2018 and made his first team debut in a 2-1 loss against Fortaleza in October 2019.
FC Dallas technical director Andre Zanotta is familiar with Megiolaro, as he was Gremio's executive director prior to his arrival in Dallas in January 2019.
Megiolaro has yet to make his senior team debut for the Brazilian national team but was on the bench for international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Argentina in 2018 and Qatar on June 5, 2019. He represented Brazil in the 2017 Toulon Tournament and started in goal for Brazil’s U-20 National Team in the 2019 South American U-20 Championship.
FCD have turned to Jimmy Maurer in goal after the club mutually terminated the contract of Jesse Gonzalez on August 6. MLS announced in June that it was suspending Gonzalez following a report to the Frisco Police Department alleging incidents of domestic abuse. The league said it was conducting an independent investigation into the matter and would remain in close communication with FC Dallas, local law enforcement and the MLS Players Association throughout the process.
Maurer has started both of Dallas' matches since they returned to play and has made 17 starts in his four years with the club. Megiolaro figures to compete with Maurer for the starting job.
