TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired goalkeeper Daniel from Brazilian Serie A club Internacional, the MLS club announced Saturday.
The 28-year-old Brazilian’s deal runs through the 2024 MLS season with an option for 2025. His transfer was completed using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM).
Daniel, who posted 37 shutouts in 83 matches for Internacional (74 goals against), should add competition for San Jose’s starting goalkeeper job alongside homegrown JT Marcinkowski. The former US youth international has been San Jose’s starter across the last two-plus seasons.
"Daniel comes to San Jose with an impressive pedigree from a top league and club in South America," Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch said in a release. "He has made nearly 50 appearances in the top-flight Brazilian Serie A, as well as premier domestic and international tournaments.
"We believe his quality will add a different level of competition to the goalkeeper position."
If Daniel wins the Earthquakes’ starting job over Marcinkowski, he could form a Brazilian defensive triumvirate with center backs Nathan and Rodrigues. They joined San Jose midway through the 2021 and 2022 MLS seasons, respectively, and are projected to start alongside late-2022 fullback additions Miguel Trauco (left) and Carlos Akapo (right).
San Jose’s goalkeeper corps also includes highly-rated homegrown Emmanuel Ochoa, who’s featured for both Mexican and US youth national teams. The 17-year-old has played extensively in MLS NEXT Pro for Earthquakes II.
San Jose, led by new head coach Luchi Gonzalez, will open their regular-season slate at Atlanta United on Feb. 25 (7:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). Last year, they finished bottom of the Western Conference table (14th place) and their 69 goals against were second-most league-wide.
READ MORE: MLS Transfer Tracker presented by Avant
