Sérgio Santos (footballer, born 1994)

Sérgio Henrique Santos Gomes (born 4 September 1994) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as forward for FC Cincinnati of Major League Soccer.^[1]

Sérgio Santos

Santos with the Philadelphia Union
Personal information
Full name	Sérgio Henrique Santos Gomes
Date of birth	(1994-09-04) 4 September 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	FC Cincinnati
Number	17
Youth career
0000–2013	América Mineiro
2013–2015	Audax Italiano
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Audax Italiano	74	(19)
2019–2022	Philadelphia Union	78	(22)
2019	→ Bethlehem Steel (loan)	2	(1)
2022–	FC Cincinnati	59	(7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 September 2024

Early life

Santos was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.^[1] Growing up in the Ana Lucía neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, Santos worked as a bricklayer and construction worker to help his family.^[2] Santos joined América Mineiro at age nine beginning his development into a professional.^[2]

Playing career

Audax Italiano

Santos playing for Audax Italiano versus Deportes Iquique

In 2014, Santos began exploring professional options in Chile. After trying negotiations with Palestino and Magallanes, he signed with Audax Italiano.^[2] In August 2018, Santos signed a contract extension with Italiano through mid-2020.^[3] Santos scored nine goals in 16 league appearances during the 2018 season for Audax and was the club's leading scorer. He helped the club qualify for the 2018 Copa Sudamericana and reach the Copa Chile final, where the side finished as runners-up to Palestino.^[4]

Philadelphia Union

On 14 December 2018, signed with Philadelphia Union competing in Major League Soccer.^[4] The signing was completed for approximately $500,000 transfer fee and as a TAM-level player.^[5] After a slow start due to injuries, Santos scored his first two goals for the Union on May 5 versus New England Revolution in a 6–1 victory.^[6][7] Santos would finish his first season with four goals and one assist.^[8]

While the 2020 season was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic, Santos found his footing with the Union scoring the first goal of the season against Los Angeles FC.^[9][10] In October during a top of the table match-up, Santos scored his first professional hat trick against Toronto FC (the fourth in Union history); earning him MLS Player of the Week honors.^[10][11][12] The season would end with the Union earning their first trophy in club history, the 2020 Supporters' Shield, leading the team with eight goals.^[10]

FC Cincinnati

On 8 July 2022, Santos was acquired from the Philadelphia Union by FC Cincinnati, joining the club in exchange for $300,000 in allocation money, with an additional $625,000 dependent on performance-based metrics or contract conditions being met. Philadelphia will receive a percentage of a future trade if Santos is traded to another MLS club.^[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 19 December 2020^[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Audax Italiano	2014–15	Primera División	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2015–16	Primera División	19	3	7	4	0	0	0	0	26	7
	2016–17	Primera División	24	3	4	1	0	0	0	0	28	4
	2017–18	Primera División	30	13	8	5	1	1	0	0	39	19
	Total		74	19	21	10	1	1	0	0	96	30
Philadelphia Union	2019	MLS	19	4	1	1	0	0	2[a]	0	22	5
	2020	MLS	25	8	0	0	0	0	4[a][b]	3	29	11
	Total		44	12	1	1	0	0	6	3	51	16
Career total			118	31	22	11	1	1	6	3	147	46

1. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
2. Appearance(s) in MLS is Back Tournament

Honours

Philadelphia Union

• Supporters' Shield: 2020^[15]

FC Cincinnati

• Supporters' Shield: 2023

References

1. "Sergio Santos | Philadelphia Union profile". philadelphiaunion.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
2. Matías Alarcón Laguna (15 October 2017). "El obrero de Audax Italiano". latercera.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2020.
3. Christian Gonazlez (24 August 2018). "Audax Italiano anuncia la extensión del contrato de Sergio Santos". latercera.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2019.
4. "Philadelphia Union Sign Forward Sergio Santos". philadelphiaunion.com. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
5. Jonathan Tannenwald (14 December 2018). "Union sign Brazilian forward Sergio Santos; 24-year-old is Ernst Tanner's first major acquisition". philly.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
6. Matthew Ralph (13 March 2019). "Sergio Santos out a month with hip injury". Brotherly Game. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
7. "Union beat Revolution as Sergio Santos scores first two MLS goals". nbcsports.com. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
8. "Sergio Santos | MLS Profile". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
9. Jonathan Sigal (9 March 2020). "LAFC 3, Philadelphia Union 3 | 2020 MLS Match Recap". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
10. "Season In Review: Sergio Santos". philadelphiaunion.com. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
11. "Sergio Santos chips in the first Philadelphia Union hat trick in three years". brotherlygame.com. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
12. "Philadelphia Union forward Sergio Santos named MLS Player of the Week for Week 20". MLSsoccer.com. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
13. "FC Cincinnati acquire Sergio Santos from Philadelphia Union". 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
14. "Brazil - Sergio Santos - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
15. "Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day". Major League Soccer. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.

External links

• Sérgio Santos at BDFA (in Spanish)
• Sérgio Santos at Soccerway