Kaio Jorge

Kaio Jorge Pinto Ramos (born 24 January 2002), known as Kaio Jorge (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈkaju ˈʒoʁʒi]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Cruzeiro.

Club career

Santos

Born in Olinda, Pernambuco, Kaio joined Santos' under-11s in 2013. In November 2017, aged only 15, he was promoted to the under-20 squad.

On 21 September 2018, Kaio was promoted to the first-team by manager Cuca. He made his professional – and Série A – debut nine days later, coming on as a second-half substitute for Bruno Henrique in a 1–0 home defeat of Atlético Paranaense, becoming the sixth youngest to debut in Santos' history.

On 11 January 2019, after lengthy negotiations, Kaio signed his first professional contract with the club, agreeing to a three-year deal. He scored his first goal for Peixe on 3 March of the following year, netting his team's second in a 2–1 Copa Libertadores away win against Defensa y Justicia; it was also his debut match in the competition.

Juventus

On 26 July 2021, Kaio reportedly agreed to a pre-contract with Italian side Juventus, effective as of 1 January. On 2 August, Santos announced an agreement with Juventus for his immediate transfer, with the Italian side paying a rumoured fee of €3 million. Juventus officially announced Kaio's transfer on 17 August, signing him on a five-year contract.

On 23 August, Kaio suffered a medium-grade injury to the rectus femoris. On 1 September, Kaio was excluded from Juventus' 23-man squad for the UEFA Champions League group stage. He played his first match since this injury (and the first one for Juventus) on 2 October, in a 1–0 away win against cross-city rivals Torino, coming on as substitute in the 89th minute.

On 20 October, Kaio played a match with Juventus U23 — the reserve team of Juventus — in a 2–2 Serie C away draw against AlbinoLeffe, where he missed a penalty and scored a goal. In January 2022, Kaio refused a loan move to Sassuolo. On 2 February, Juventus' coach Massimiliano Allegri did not include Kaio in the UEFA Champions League knock-out stage squad. Kaio was called up by Juventus U23 again on 22 February, for a match against Pro Patria set to be played the following day, where he injured his patellar tendon. He ended the 2021–22 season early, having only played 125 minutes in nine matches with the first team (none as a starter).

Loan to Frosinone

On 29 August 2023, Kaio joined newly promoted side Frosinone on a season-long loan.

Cruzeiro

On 6 June 2024, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Cruzeiro announced a verbal agreement with Juventus and Kaio Jorge's staff for the transfer of the player. The deal was officially confirmed five days later after the completion of the medical exams, with Kaio Jorge signing a five-year contract with the club.

International career

Kaio was called up to the Brazil U15 team for the 2017 South American U-15 Championship, scoring four goals in three matches during the tournament. On 21 September 2018, he was called up to the U17 team for a friendly tournament in Nantwich and Telford, England.

On 20 September 2019, Kaio was included in Guilherme Dalla Déa's 21-man list for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He scored five goals in the competition, including one in the final (a 2–1 defeat of Mexico), and was awarded the Bronze Boot.