Former Milan wonderkid & Chelsea forward signs for Orlando City

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 17 May 2021 18:47 BST
• 1 min read

Alexandre Pato has joined Orlando City on a free transfer, the MLS side has confirmed.

The 31-year-old attacker was a free agent after his contract at Sao Paulo was terminated last August.

He will now play his football in Florida in the new Major League Soccer season.

“We are very excited to welcome Pato to Orlando,” Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi stated.

“He’s a veteran player who has featured at some of the top clubs around the world and has a proven track record at the international level.

“Pato is a high-calibre player and we’re excited to add another great target up top.”

Pato was regarded as one of the most promising young talents in world football when he burst onto the scene as a teenager.

He moved to Milan at the age of just 18 for €24 million to form a mouth-watering all-Brazilian attack alongside Ronaldo and Kaka.

But after a bright first few seasons at San Siro, slowly injuries and poor form started to take its toll.

He returned to Brazil before having another crack in Europe with Villarreal and Chelsea.

In recent years he plied his trade in China and then last year he was back at Sao Paulo for a second spell.

Still only 31, he has scored an impressive 182 goals in his club career. He has also found the back of the net 10 times in 27 games for Brazil.