Japa (footballer, born 2004)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Wellington Gadelha Melo de Oliveira | ||
| Date of birth | 2 January 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Goianinha, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cruzeiro | ||
| Number | 77 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cruzeiro | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Cruzeiro | 28 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:58, 15 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
João Wellington Gadelha Melo de Oliveira (born 2 January 2004), commonly known as Japa, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cruzeiro.
Career
Japa was born in Goianinha, Rio Grande do Norte.[1] A Cruzeiro youth graduate, he signed his first professional contract with the club on 14 December 2021.[2] On 16 May 2023, he further extended his link until 2026.[3]
Japa made his professional – and Série A – debut on 22 October 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow youth graduate Kaiki Bruno in a 1–0 away win over rivals Atlético Mineiro.[4] Definitely promoted to the first team for the 2024 season, he featured rarely before suffering a serious thigh injury in January 2025,[5] which sidelined him for more than ten months.[6]
Japa scored his first senior goal on 14 January 2026, netting his side's second in a 2–1 Campeonato Mineiro away win over Tombense.[7]
Career statistics
- As of 16 January 2026[8]
| Club | Season | League | State League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cruzeiro | 2023 | Série A | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 22 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
References
- ^ "Jovem talento de Goianinha brilha no futebol e garante vaga no Cruzeiro para a temporada de 2024" [Young talent from Goianinha shines in football and assures spot at Cruzeiro for the 2024 season] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Goianinha Rádio. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Ítalo e Japa assinam seus primeiros contratos profissionais com o Cruzeiro" [Ítalo and Japa sign their first professional contracts with Cruzeiro] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Celeste. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Cruzeiro amplia contrato com meia da base e multa internacional; veja detalhes" [Cruzeiro extend contract with midfielder from the youth setup and international release clause; see details] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Revelação da base do Cruzeiro, Japa celebra estreia no clássico: "Experiência incrível"" [Graduate of Cruzeiro's youth setup, Japa celebrates debut in derby: "Amazing experience"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Cruzeiro informa lesão grave de Japa e explica ausências de Marlon e Kaio Jorge" [Cruzeiro inform serious injury of Japa and explain the absences of Marlon and Kaio Jorge] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Cria do Cruzeiro, Japa supera lesão e faz primeiro jogo oficial na temporada" [Home-grown at Cruzeiro, Japa overcomes injury and makes his first official match of the season] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Rádio Itatiaia. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Japa celebra primeiro gol pelo profissional do Cruzeiro e relembra 2025: 'Foi difícil'" [Japa celebrates first goal for the first team of Cruzeiro and remembers 2025: 'It was tough'] (in Brazilian Portuguese). O Tempo. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ Japa at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 October 2023.