Ronaldinho’s son Joao Mendes reportedly joins Hull City to continue development
20-year-old attacking midfielder leaves Burnley after spells at Barcelona and Cruzeiro as he seeks to forge his own path
Joao Mendes de Assis Moreira, the 20-year-old son of former Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho, has reportedly completed a move to Championship club Hull City and will join their Under-21 squad, the Hull Daily Mail reported Tuesday.
Mendes, primarily a left winger who describes himself as a "technical and fast player," has spent his youth career with several Brazilian clubs before moving to Europe. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he featured in the youth setups at Flamengo and Vasco da Gama and signed his first professional contract with Cruzeiro at 14. Mendes later joined Barcelona in March 2023, where he spent more than a year with the club's Under-19s before relocating to England at the start of the 2024-25 season to join Burnley.
At Burnley, Mendes predominantly featured for the Under-21 side. He was among a number of players released by the club at the end of the 2024-25 season after Burnley secured promotion to the Premier League. Mendes signaled his departure from the Clarets in April with an Instagram post captioned "last dance" alongside a photograph of himself in action.
The move to Hull City represents Mendes’s latest attempt to establish himself in English football and to move beyond comparisons to his father. Speaking to ESPN earlier this year, Mendes said part of his reason for leaving Barcelona and moving to England was to "get away a bit from where he played and what's close," adding, "I want to be João, regardless of anything." He also acknowledged the pride he feels in being Ronaldinho's son while stressing a desire to develop his own identity as a player.
Ronaldinho, whose full name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, is widely regarded as one of Barcelona's greatest players. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, joined Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, and collected the Ballon d'Or in 2005. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 and helped Barcelona to two LaLiga titles and the 2006 UEFA Champions League.
According to the Hull Daily Mail, Mendes will be integrated into Hull City's Under-21 setup. Hull City compete in the EFL Championship, a second-tier league that frequently serves as a development platform for young players aspiring to break into senior professional football. Mendes’s move follows a trajectory through multiple academies and short-term moves as he seeks regular opportunities.
Mendes has previously been reported to have concealed his family ties in order to be judged on his own merits while securing a contract at Cruzeiro. That episode, along with his subsequent moves between Brazil and Europe, underscores a continuing effort to balance the weight of a famous surname with the practical demands of a professional career.
The reported transfer has yet to be confirmed by Hull City. Mendes’s progression at the club will be watched closely by observers interested in whether he can translate youth-level promise into first-team appearances and carve out a career separate from the expectations that accompany his family name.