João Pereira

João Pedro da Silva Pereira is a Portuguese footballer that performs for Valencia CF.

He started playing football in a youth team of the club Domingos Sávio in 1990. He studied in the academy of the club until the scouts from Benfica came to watch the skills of the youngsters playing in Domingos Sávio. João was one of those to join Benfica and since 1994 till 2003 the kid was brought up in the system of this Portuguese club.

In 2003 He signed his first professional contract with Benfica and having spent 3 years and having played 58 games for the squad he was sent on a half-a-year loan to Gil Vicente. He quickly got accustomed to the new team and started to play well making the management of Gil Vicente sign the young player on a regular basis. The first season there was a success. Pereira made 25 appearances scoring once.

In 2007 he signed for Braga and became a key player covering the right defender’s zone. 67 appearances and quality play on his position paved his way to Sporting who had to pay €3 million to purchase the defender.

On May 30, 2012, Valencia CF signed the defender for a €3.6 million fee.