Juliao is on loan from Fluminense FC through the end of 2017. Sporting KC first acquired the Brazilian in April 2014 after scouting him at the 2014 Disney Pro Soccer Classic during the team's preseason. He spent the 2014 MLS season with Sporting KC before returning to his native Brazil from 2014-2016.
2017: MLS regular season: Has started one match (45 minutes played). Made his 2017 debut against Minnesota United FC on May 7, logging his first appearance for the club since October 2014. Open Cup: Has not featured.
2014: Was named Sporting KC's 2014 Co-Newcomer of the Year. MLS regular season: Played in 23 matches, all starts, and contributed to five shutouts with two assists. Made his debut and first start for the club on May 14 against Philadelphia. He became the third youngest player in club history to start a league match and the youngest player in team history to play the full 90 minutes in a regular season game. Was named to Sports Illustrated's Week 11 MLS Best XI for two active displays on the backline (May 14, May 18). Assisted Benny Feilhaber's game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Columbus on July 16, the first assist of his MLS career. Was named to MLS Team of the Week for the first time in his career on July 21 (Week 19) after helping the club to victories at Columbus and vs. LA Galaxy. Assisted Graham Zusi's goal in a 4-0 win at Chivas USA on Sept. 12. MLS Playoffs: Did not feature. CCL: Started three matches (225 minutes) in the 2014-15 group stage, contributing to one shutout. Assisted Antonio Dovale's second goal in a 3-1 win over Deportivo Saprissa on Sept. 18. Open Cup: Did not feature. Friendly: Played 45 minutes in a 4-1 Champions Shield defeat to Manchester City on July 23 at Sporting Park.
BEFORE MLS: After nine years of development in Fluminense FC youth academy, Julião made his debut in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A as a 17-year-old in August 2012. He made three appearances in Brazil’s top division during his first professional season as Fluminense FC won their fourth league title in the club’s 111-year history. In August 2013, Julião broke into the starting lineup for Fluminense FC en route to 20 appearances for the senior squad last season. He started 14 league matches and made appearances in each of the team’s final 10 games of the Brasileirão. In his Fluminense FC youth and professional career, Julião played in a total of 379 games with 76 goals.
After returning to Fluminense FC at the end of 2014, Julião was loaned to three teams in his native Brazil. He split time in 2015 between ABC Futebol Clube and Macaé, appearing nine times in the Série B, then played 12 matches during the first half of 2016 with Ferroviária in the Campeonato Paulista.
NATIONAL TEAM: Julião was selected to Brazil’s Under-20 Men’s National Team for the 2013 South American Youth Championship in Argentina and made three appearances at the competition.
YOUTH: Julião first joined Fluminense FC’s academy at age eight in February 2003 and capped off his youth career by leading the club’s Under-20 side to back-to-back state championships in 2012 and 2013. He traveled to the United States for the 2013 Dallas Cup as Fluminense FC U19’s won Group C and reached the Super Group semifinals before falling to eventual champions Fulham FC in penalty kicks at the Cotton Bowl one year ago. Most recently, Julião started all four games for the Fluminense FC U23’s at the 2014 Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Florida earlier this year, highlighted by a strong showing on the tournament’s final day with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over Toronto FC.
