Joel Pereira

As of match played 22 August 2026

Manchester United

Pereira signed for Manchester United at the age of 16 in 2012. He was part of the team that won the 2014–15 Under-21 Development League title, and extended his contract on 13 August 2015, amidst a goalkeeping saga at the club. His sole Premier League appearance for Manchester United came against Crystal Palace on 21 May 2017. On 4 June 2021, Manchester United announced a list with eight players whose contracts are set to expire, with one of them being Joel Pereira.

2015–16: Loan to Rochdale

On 17 October 2015, he was loaned to Rochdale in Football League One for a month. Later that day, he had his first senior call-up, remaining an unused substitute as the team drew 0–0 away to Bury. On 10 November 2015, he made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Morecambe at Spotland, in the quarter-finals of the Football League Trophy. Manager Keith Hill praised the goalkeeper's performance after he was named man of the match and saved a penalty kick. On 19 November 2015, he extended his loan until 3 January 2016. Two days later, Pereira made his Football League debut, in a 2–0 away win against Doncaster Rovers. He totalled eight appearances for Rochdale, six in the league. On 25 February 2016, he had his first call-up to a senior Manchester United game, sitting on the bench for their 5–1 home win over Midtjylland in the last 32 second leg of the UEFA Europa League.

2016–17: Loan to Belenenses and Premier League debut

On 31 August 2016, he joined…

Pereira is eligible to represent Switzerland or Portugal at international level. In 2011, he made two appearances for the Switzerland under-15s (against Belgium and Turkey). He was promoted to the under-16s in September 2011, making his debut in a 6–2 win over Italy on 6 September, the first of five appearances in total for the under-16 team. Shortly after joining Manchester United in August 2012, he was invited to play for Portugal instead. He made 35 appearances for Portugal from under-17 to under-21 level. In July 2016, Pereira was selected in the Portugal under-23 squad for the 2016 Olympic Games. He was an unused substitute in all four of Portugal's matches in the tournament. In May 2017, he was selected in the Portugal under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Pereira was born in Boudevilliers, in the Swiss Canton of Neuchâtel, to Portuguese parents from Cabeceiras de Basto. In his childhood, he played football for Le Locle and Neuchâtel Xamax.