Quick Facts
Cancer
Biography
Joel Dinis Castro Pereira ([ʒo.ˈɛw d͡ʒi.ˈnis ˈkaʃ.tɾu pɨ.ˈɾej.ɾɐ] born 28 June 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English Premier League club Manchester United.
Early life
Born in Boudevilliers, in the Swiss Canton of Neuchâtel, Pereira grew up in Le Locle and began his career in the youth ranks of local club FC Le Locle, before joining Neuchâtel Xamax at 13.
Club career
Manchester United
Pereira signed for Manchester United in 2012. He was part of the team that won the 2014–15 Under-21 Development League title, and extended his contract on 13 August 2015, amidst a goalkeeping saga at the club.
2015–16: Loan to Rochdale
On 17 October 2015, he was loaned to Rochdale in Football League One for a month. Later that day, he had his first senior call-up, remaining an unused substitute as the team drew 0–0 away to Bury. On 10 November 2015, he made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Morecambe at Spotland, in the quarter-finals of the Football League Trophy. Manager Keith Hill praised the goalkeeper's performance after he was named man of the match and saved a penalty kick. On 19 November 2015, he extended his loan until 3 January 2016. Two days later, Pereira made his Football League debut, in a 2–0 away win against Doncaster Rovers. He totalled eight appearances for Rochdale, six in the league.
On 25 February 2016, he had his first call-up to a senior Manchester United game, sitting on the bench for their 5–1 home win over FC Midtjylland in the last 32 second leg of the UEFA Europa League.
2016–17: Loan to Belenenses and Premier League debut
On 31 August 2016, he joined Primeira Liga club Belenenses on loan. His loan spell ended on 5 January 2017, due to Manchester United's third-choice goalkeeper Sam Johnstone joining Aston Villa on loan. Pereira made his Manchester United debut on 29 January 2017, in an FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Sergio Romero. On 21 May 2017, he started for the first time in the Premier League, against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
2017–18: New contract
On 1 July 2017, Pereira signed a four year deal to stay at Manchester United until 2021. On 20 September 2017, he appeared as a substitute against Burton Albion in the EFL Cup and conceded a last-minute goal.
2018–19: Loans to Setúbal and Kortrijk
On 2 August 2018, he joined Vitória de Setúbal on loan for the 2018–19 season. After making 10 appearances in all competitions, Pereira's loan spell was terminated in January 2019 and he returned to Manchester United. At the end of January 2019, he went out on loan again, this time to Belgium with Kortrijk. He made five appearances for the club in the Europa League playoffs.
2019–20: Loan to Hearts
Pereira went out on loan again for the 2019–20 season, joining Scottish Premiership club Hearts on 13 August 2019. He made his debut three days later in the second round of the Scottish League Cup, a 2–1 win at Motherwell. On 25 August, he played for the first time in the Scottish Premiership, losing 3–1 away to reigning champions Celtic.
International career
In July 2016, Pereira was selected in the Portugal squad for the 2016 Olympic Games. He was an unused substitute in all four of Portugal's matches in the tournament. In May 2017, he was selected in the Portugal under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Career statistics
- As of match played 12 February 2020
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2015–16 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Rochdale (loan) | 2015–16 | League One | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Belenenses (loan) | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| Vitória de Setúbal (loan) | 2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| Kortrijk (loan) | 2018–19 | First Division A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Hearts (loan) | 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 44 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 61 | 0 | ||
