Midfielder Pierre da Silva will get experience in Brazil this season.
Orlando City SC loaned the 20-year-old to Club Athletico Paranaense of Brazil’s Série A, the club announced on March 18.
The New York native of Brazilian and Peruvian descent is Orlando City’s first-ever player to have advanced from the club’s academy to its first team. He played for Orlando City B of the then-United Soccer League and then signed with the first team ahead of the 2017 season.
OCB is the side he’s seen the most on-the-field action with, as da Silva played in 23 games, starting 18 of them in 2016. That season, he ended the season on the USL’s 20 Under 20 list at No. 15. A season later, he was No. 1.
da Silva represents the United States at the international level. He’s appeared in 32 games for the U.S.’s youth squads, scoring four times. da Silva was also on the U-17 United States men’s national-team roster for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. That same year, he was later called up to the U-19 United States men’s national team for training camp.
For the Orlando City’s Major League Soccer side, da Silva has played in three matches in two seasons.
The club’s official relationship with Atlético Paranaense began in November 2016.
For more on da Silva, as he progresses through Brazil’s top flight, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
