Sporting Kansas City introduced the team's second Designated Player of the 2011 season on Sunday with the acquisition of Brazilian midfielder Jéferson from well-known Brazilian club Vasco da Gama.
"I've been preparing physically to be able to come here and make an immediate impact, Jéferson said. "I'm very excited to be here and I come with the goal to help the team fulfill its goal of making the playoffs and ultimately going to the final."
Jéferson, 27, will spend the rest of the 2011 season with Sporting Kansas City on loan and becomes the third Designated Player in club history, joining the team's current leading goal scorer Omar Bravo and former Argentine forward Claudio Lopez.
"We are excited to have gotten Jéferson based on the fact that he is a player with the attacking qualities that can really help our team with the final pass and also scoring goals," Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. "This is an area where we continue to want to improve, and this is an excellent addition with his pedigree of playing in Brazil."
An attacking midfielder with a keen eye for goal, Jéferson began his career in 2005 with Brasiliense before moving on to Esporte Clube Santo André the following season.
Apart from a loan spell with Guarani, Jéferson spent the next three seasons with Santo André, most notably making 22 appearances and scoring 13 goals in the 2008 season that saw the São Paulo club promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Jéferson's strong performances with Santo André earned the playmaker a move to Brazilian club giant Vasco da Gama in 2009. Jéferson was loaned to Avaí in 2010, where he managed to score four goals in eight appearances.
Jéferson, who will wear number 10 for Sporting Kansas City, was presented to the media on Sunday at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park after completing a physical on Sunday morning. The midfielder will be added to the team's roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.
Sporting Kansas City is one of seven MLS teams with multiple Designated Players for the 2011 season.
