Vasco agree midfielder JP's contract renewal | OneFootball

Vasco have secured the long-term stay of another talent developed in their youth academy. The board has officially agreed to renew the contract of midfielder João Pedro, popularly known as JP. The player, who previously had a deal with Cruz-Maltino running until December 2027, extended his stay by one more year, signing a new definitive agreement with the Gigante da Colina until the end of the 2028 season. According to information from Rádio Tupi, the change in the contract term and the player’s salary adjustment are already listed in the CBF’s Daily Information Bulletin (BID).

The 21-year-old’s increased value comes amid the strategic planning drawn up by the club’s top leadership to restructure the creative midfield area. With other players in the position close to leaving, the Vasco board intends to revamp the department and open up space for younger options in the squad. Under the current coaching staff, the current expectation is that the youngster will get more minutes on the pitch in the second half of the season and remain a regular in matchday squads for upcoming first-team games, having been confirmed in the group of players set to report back at São Januário on June 22.

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JP’s current moment and history in a Vasco shirt

JP began his journey with the Rio de Janeiro club in 2019, piling up important achievements in the youth ranks before moving up to the first team. His official senior debut for Vasco came in the 2024 season, featuring in the 2-1 win over Grêmio, and since then he has made 22 official appearances representing the Cruz-Maltino colors. The following year, the playmaker was loaned to Avaí to gain match experience and became the team’s standout technical performer during their Série B campaign in the Brazilian Championship.

After returning from Santa Catarina with his stock raised, the player began featuring more regularly compared to his first transitional year. In the current 2026 season, the midfielder has played nine matches in a Vasco shirt, including appearances in the Copa Sudamericana against Audax Italiano at Estadio La Florida in Santiago. Although he is still looking to establish himself as an undisputed starter and win his first official title with the senior team, he is internally seen as an option with great technical potential to support the tactical buildup of the Rio side for the remainder of the year.

JP is one of Vasco’s own – Photo: João Pedro Isidro/Vasco

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.