Philadelphia Union Acquire Midfielder Jamiro Monteiro Central midfielder joins Union from French side FC Metz; Cape Verde international acquired on four-month loan with options to extend and purchase

CHESTER, Pa. (March 5, 2019) – Philadelphia Union announced today that the club has acquired Dutch-born Cape Verdean midfielder Jamiro Monteiro (pronounced: Juh-MEER-o Mahn-TEHR-o) from French club FC Metz. The deal is structured as a four-month loan through June including a Union option to both extend the loan through the 2019 MLS season as well as an additional Union option to then buy. Targeted Allocation Money was used as part of the transaction. Monteiro will be added to the Union’s active roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa and will occupy an international roster slot.

"We have had our eye on Jamiro for some time and we are pleased to complete this deal to bring him to Philadelphia,” said Ernst Tanner, Union Sporting Director. “He is a relentless box-to-box midfielder who we believe fits well into our tactical parameters for a central midfielder. We look forward to integrating him into the squad as quickly as possible with the young season just underway."

Monteiro, 25, joins the Union from French Ligue 2 side FC Metz, a club that he joined last summer. He has made three league appearances for club with an additional three cup appearances. Prior to moving to France, Monteiro played the duration of his professional career in the Netherlands, the country of his birth. Playing for topflight Dutch club Heracles Almelo, he appeared in 34 Eredivisie games in 2017-18, scoring four times and assisting an additional three goals.

Monteiro began his senior career in 2015-16 by signing with Dutch club SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden. He made 20 Eredivisie appearances that season and followed that up with 36 second-division appearances for the club in 2016-17.

Internationally, Monteiro plays for the country of his parents’ heritage, Cape Verde. He has registered five caps for Cape Verde, debuting in Africa Cup of Nations qualification in 2016.

TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union acquire midfielder Jamiro Monteiro on loan with options to both extend and buy on March 5, 2019. He will be added to the active roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.

Name: Jamiro Monteiro (pronounced: Juh-MEER-o Mahn-TEHR-o)

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 137

Born: November 23, 1993 in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Hometown: Rotterdam, Netherlands Citizenship: Netherlands, Cape Verde

Acquired: Philadelphia Union acquire midfielder Jamiro Monteiro on loan with options to both extend and buy on March 5, 2019. He will be added to the active roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.

Previous Experience: Cambuur (2015-2017), Heracles Almelo (2017-2018), FC Metz (2018-)