Dynamo exercise purchase option for Brazilian defender Micael

(image via Houston Dynamo 2)

The Houston Dynamo have signed Brazilian defender Micael through 2024 with club options for 2025 and 2026. The club exercised the purchase option after signing on loan from Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro last season.

“We are excited to sign Micael to a first team contract after a stellar campaign with Dynamo 2 last year,” Dynamo general manager, Pat Onstad said. “The purpose of our second team is to develop players who can make an impact in MLS. Micael used his time with Dynamo 2 last season to assimilate to a new country and break into our first team training environment, eventually earning MLS playing time. This new contract will create more opportunities for him to contribute to the first team’s back line in the 2023 season and beyond.”  

Micael played in 17 games for Dynamo 2 last season and contributed to a team high 8 clean sheets. He made his first team debut in Houston’s 1-0 win over Atletico San Luis in the 2022 Dynamo Charities Cup. He made his MLS debut as a second half substitute on August 13 against CF Montreal.

Micael will join Teenage Hadebe, Daniel Steres, and Ethan Bartlow as center backs on the first team roster this season. Talen Maples, who partnered Micael with Dynamo 2 for a lot of last season, has also been in training with the first team and could feature this season. Micael is the third Dynamo 2 graduate to sign an MLS contract.