INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven announced on Monday the club had signed forward Stefano Pinho, bringing the Brazilian back for his second stint with the Boys in Blue. Pinho will be available for Indy pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Pinho recorded 13 goals in 32 USL Championship matches in 2022 for Indy, making 22 starts and logging more than 2,000 minutes of action. Among his 13 goals, which led the team, Pinho recorded four game-winning goals and also contributed three assists, while tallying 52 shots and 21 shots on target.

Pinho returns to the Circle City after appearing in five matches for Brazilian club Paysandu SC, where he recorded one goal.

The 32-year-old opened his career in South America playing for youth club Fluminese FC and began his professional career on loan with Brazilian sides Guaratingueta (2012) and Madureira (2013) and Finnish club Mypa (2014).

Pinho has previously competed in the United States with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2015 and went on to play for Minnesota United (2016) and Miami FC (2017). He twice earned the NASL’s Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards, once with Fort Lauderdale and once with Miami FC as he recorded 16 goals and had nine assists with Fort Lauderdale and added 17 goals and three assists with Miami FC.

In 2018, Pinho played 26 matches for MLS club Orlando City FC across MLS and U.S. Open Cup competition and scored three goals. The 2019 season saw him play for Xianjang Tianshan Leopard (2019) in China and he spent 2020-21 with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Washm. He returned to the States in 2021 to play for Austin Bold FC, where he registered a goal and an assist in 25 matches.