# Júnior Santos (footballer, born 1994)

José Antonio dos Santos Júnior (born 11 October 1994), known as Júnior Santos, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Atlético Mineiro.

## Career
### Early career

Born in Conceição do Jacuípe, Bahia, Júnior Santos never represented any clubs as a youth. Known as Berimbau, after impressing for amateur sides in his hometown, he was invited for a trial period at Osvaldo Cruz. He subsequently signed a contract with the club, and made his senior debut on 8 August 2017 by starting in a 1–1 away draw against Presidente Prudente FC for the Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão championship.
Júnior Santos scored his first senior goals on 25 June 2017, netting a brace in a 2–2 home draw against José Bonifácio. He finished the season with five goals in 20 appearances, as his side was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

### Ituano

On 11 January 2018, Júnior Santos was presented at Ituano. He made his debut for the club on 3 February 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 Campeonato Paulista home draw against Ponte Preta.
Júnior Santos scored his first professional goal on 26 February 2018, netting the game's only in a home defeat of Red Bull Brasil. He finished the tournament with four goals in 11 appearances.

#### Loan to Ponte Preta

On 8 April 2018, Júnior Santos was loaned to Série B side Ponte Preta until the end of the year, with a buyout clause. On his debut for the club four days later, he scored the last in a 3–0 home win against Náutico for the year's Copa do Brasil.

### Fortaleza

On 19 December 2018, Júnior Santos moved to Série A club Fortaleza on a three-year contract, after the club bought 50% of his economic rights. He was a part of the team that won both the Campeonato Cearense and the Copa do Nordeste, being the joint top-scorer in the latter competition with eight goals.
Júnior Santos made his top tier debut on 28 April 2019, starting in a 4–0 away loss to Palmeiras.

### Kashiwa Reysol

On 26 June 2019, Júnior Santos moved abroad for the first time in his career, after signing for J2 League side Kashiwa Reysol. He achieved promotion as champions in his first year, but only featured in eight matches.

#### Loan to Yokohama F. Marinos

On 11 August 2020, after being rarely used, Júnior Santos was loaned to Yokohama F. Marinos for the remainder of the year. He scored 13 times for the club in only 22 league matches, being their top goalscorer during the season.

### Sanfrecce Hiroshima

In January 2022, Júnior Santos signed a permanent deal with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

#### Loan to Botafogo

On 18 August 2022, Júnior Santos was presented at Botafogo, after agreeing to a loan deal until the end of the year. Despite being regularly used, he left the club in December, after Sanfrecce refused a new loan deal.

### Fortaleza return

On 20 January 2023, Júnior Santos returned to Fortaleza on a three-year contract, after the club paid US$700,000 for his economic rights.

### Botafogo return

On 31 March 2023, Fortaleza announced the transfer of Júnior Santos to Botafogo, with his new club taking over Fortaleza's debt with Sanfrecce plus a US$200,000 fee. He became an immediate first-choice for Fogão, and scored four times in a 6–0 Copa Libertadores home routing of Aurora on 28 February 2024.

### Atlético Mineiro

On 24 January 2025, Júnior Santos joined Atlético Mineiro on a four-year deal.

## Career statistics

    As of 16 March 2025
| Club | Season | League | League | League | State league | State league | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Osvaldo Cruz | 2017 | Paulista 2ª Divisão | — | — | 17 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 5 |
| Ituano | 2018 | Paulista | — | — | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 4 |
| Ponte Preta (loan) | 2018 | Série B | 34 | 8 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 9 |
| Fortaleza (loan) | 2019 | Série A | 6 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 8 | 27 | 10 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2019 | J2 League | 8 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2020 | J1 League | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | Total | Total | 9 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos (loan) | 2020 | J1 League | 22 | 13 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 13 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2021 | J1 League | 35 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 42 | 7 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2022 | J1 League | 22 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 6 | 32 | 8 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Total | Total | 57 | 9 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 6 | 74 | 15 |
| Botafogo (loan) | 2022 | Série A | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Fortaleza | 2023 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Botafogo | 2023 | Série A | 37 | 7 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 50 | 7 |
| Botafogo | 2024 | Série A | 24 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 20 |
| Botafogo | Total | Total | 61 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 27 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2025 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 204 | 42 | 58 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 23 | 10 | 26 | 14 | 327 | 84 |
* ↑ Includes Campeonato Paulista, Campeonato Cearense, Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Mineiro
* ↑ Includes Copa do Brasil, Emperor's Cup
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in J.League Cup
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
* ↑ Appearance(s) in FIFA Intercontinental Cup

## Honours

Fortaleza
* Campeonato Cearense: 2019
* Copa do Nordeste: 2019
Kashiwa Reysol
* J2 League: 2019
Botafogo
* Taça Rio: 2024
* Copa Libertadores: 2024
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2024
Atlético Mineiro
* Campeonato Mineiro: 2025
Individual
* Copa do Nordeste Team of the Tournament: 2019
* Copa do Nordeste Top scorer: 2019
* J.League Cup Top scorer: 2022
* Copa Libertadores Top scorer: 2024