Daniel Pereira: We Watched Him So You Don’t Have To

The MLS is a league that very few have a solid depth in knowledge about – especially those from Europe. Mainly because of the late kick-off times but also because many people hold the belief that the Major League Soccer (MLS) offers poor quality football (or soccer).

But this is far from the truth, as the MLS uncovers plenty of hidden gem's year after year. Players such as Alphonso Davies, Tim Howard, or even more recent examples like Auston Trusty and Zack Steffen who all had successful careers abroad after their early stints in the MLS.

With viewership declining for the league and whilst the country is still not as developed as the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) aims to be, players are being actively lured away to already well-developed footballing countries in Europe in order to present their skills on some of the biggest stages in world football.

With much of the attention on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s players, others fall to the wayside. But with player transfers from the MLS to Europe having doubled in recent years, it is no surprise to see a player like Austin FC’s Daniel Pereira join the conversation.

🚨RUMOR: Per @GerGarciaGrova, Austin FC Midfielder Daniel Pereira 🇻🇪 is close to joining Championship side Coventry City 🏴

The deal is reportedly valued around $4 million 💰#AustinFC #Verde pic.twitter.com/7TjA9LlKld

— Verde Nation (@VerdeNationATX) July 17, 2025

The 25-year-old has been having an incredible start to the season with the Texas-based side, and with plenty of recent speculation regarding a move to the Championship’s Coventry City, it does make us wonder when he will make his move.

Player Profile

The Venezuelan has been with Austin FC since the start of the club’s MLS journey back in 2021. Here, Daniel Pereira came onto the scene as a “rookie” and so entered the annual MLS SuperDraft. The then Virginia Tech midfielder was first pick by the Verde and Black. This selection made history for Austin and Pereira as he became the first-ever pick for the club as an expansion team. Furthermore, this was the first instance where a South American had been the top pick in the draft.

Pereira was initially considered to be played as a box-to-box midfielder who was thought to provide quality depth within the squad. In an interview with the then 20-year-old, he spoke about his aspirations of being played as a number 8 and a player who could be important at both ends of the pitch.

With the #1 overall pick of the 2021 #SuperDraft, @AustinFC select midfielder Daniel Pereira (@danipereira121) out of @HokiesMSoccer! pic.twitter.com/RttqDNILp8

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 21, 2021

He quickly became adored by the Verde faithful, and just as rapidly he established himself in the team and proved why he was the first pick of the SuperDraft. He played 25 matches in his first season, as Austin completed their inaugural MLS campaign in 24th place.

Despite potentially not achieving the attacking returns he would have wished for, his second season was even better. He scored his first senior goal in April 2022 in the Texas Derby against Houston Dynamo, and just two months later, scored this wicked strike at Charlotte.

Daniel Pereira comes onto the pitch with a BANG! 💥 💥 💥#AustinFC take the lead. pic.twitter.com/82ieVbWJRW

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 1, 2022

He became a key cog in the midfield under the management and guidance of Josh Wolff, who has helped him to become the player he is today. Pereira featured in all but one of Austin’s games in the 2022 campaign as they finished in their highest league position, 4th. Pereira went on to play 36 matches the following year, and 29 in 2024.

He has played 142 games for Austin up to this stage in the season, returning with five goals and 11 assists. You may at first glance believe he is not actually as good as we are claiming him to be, but if you brush these “main” stats aside, we can see how influential Daniel Pereira really is.

A Statistical Dive

(The following stats are taken from FBRef – compared to positional peers)

As the box-to-box midfielder Pereira aspires to be, he certainly plays his part in the attacking transition, looking to set up plays for his forwards to carry on and make something of it. This is illustrated by his 1.2 successful take-ons per game, which ranks him in the top 9% of positional peers. Furthermore, he averages 6.23 progressive passes, ranking him in the top 21%.

His creative capabilities are further displayed in his impressive pass completion, where he completes 86.9% of his attempted passes, ranking him the top 17%. He does not only help in the transition, but also in setting up shots too, evident by his 3.23 shot-creating actions per game, which ranks him in the top 17% of peers.

Pereira is also known for his incredible work-rate up and down the field, which helps his influence in winning the ball back in the defensive third, to stringing together passing lanes for his teammates to create big chances.

Daniel Pereira: the best player in MLS at dribbling, carrying and resisting tackles this season (95.8 PFF grade, 1st) 📈@AustinFC #AustinFC pic.twitter.com/EUXkXr2x7g

— Gradient Sports (@Gradient_Sports) August 7, 2023

He possesses a magnificent passing range, showcased by his pass completion, and is key when linking up the play from defence into attack, but one thing he could certainly work on is his strength, with room for improvement also possible in certain defensive departments. Despite ranking in the top 13% for blocks made, standing at five feet and eight inches, it is difficult for Pereira to outmuscle physical midfielders and forwards, highlighted in his ranking of the bottom 14% for tackles made.

This is also shown in his aerial duels won, ranking in the bottom 3%, while ranking in the middle of all peers in interceptions made. He also makes just 0.97 clearances per 90 too, showing there are plenty of areas for Pereira to work on.

What Does the Future Hold?

Pereira is now a star man for Austin, who evidently can or has the potential to play anywhere down the spine of the midfield. In comparison to the rest of the MLS field, Austin are not able to hold as much of the ball in possession as other teams, with the Verde and Black averaging just 46.5%, which is how Pereira’s influence in the midfield and how he sets up the rest of his team to flourish is so important.

The six-capped Venezuelan international signed a contract extension in November last year, which will take him through until the end of the 2025 campaign, with an option for an additional year. It appears that Austin are currently looking to keep their star midfielder for the rest of the season.

Dani's Legend in VERDE & Black continues. 🌳🌳@danipereira121 inks a contract extension with #AustinFC! pic.twitter.com/Pxd3tcpgP9

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) November 8, 2024

This comes amid mass speculation over a move to Frank Lampard’s Coventry City. The Sky Blues believe that adding Pereira to their 2025/26 squad for a reported fee of £3.2m, is what could help get them over the hurdle that is the Championship playoffs and return to the topflight for the first time since 2001.

Whether or not Pereira does stick around until the end of the 2025 season or even opts for the extra year, there is no chance the attention surrounding him at the moment will clam down all that much. And if the move to Coventry does go through, Pereira will become the latest player poached from the MLS by a Championship outfit, and he would certainly not be the last.