HOUSTON (Sept. 1, 2026) – Houston Dynamo 2 signed young Brazilian defender Gabriel William on loan from Ituano FC in Brazil through June 2027, both clubs announced today, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa.
“We are excited to welcome Gabriel to our club,” said Dynamo Assistant General Manager Nick Kowba. “He is a talented young, Brazilian defender who brings versatility and competitiveness to our group. Gabriel will join our player pathway through Dynamo 2 with the hope of progressing through the Club like recent successes such as Micael dos Santos, Felipe Andrade and Agustin Resch. The first team opportunities available to our Dynamo 2 players has made Houston an increasingly attractive destination for high potential players looking to advance their professional careers.”
With Ituano’s first team, William has made 27 appearances and scored three goals, making his professional debut this year on Feb. 11, during a 2-1 victory versus Associação Atlética Internacional and scored his first professional goal a week later in a 4-0 win against Sertãozinho Futebol Clube.
The 19-year-old kicked off his soccer journey in the Ituano FC Academy, progressing through the U-17 and U-20 ranks before breaking through with the first team. With the youth squads, William totaled 47 appearances and four goals.
This year, William helped the U-20s reach the Round of the 16 of the 2026 Copinha after finishing the group stage undefeated and atop their group, while scoring a goal in their final group stage match versus Ivinhema Futebol Clube. In 2024, the defender helped the U-17s record a seven-match unbeaten streak in league play in 2024.
While fielding one of the youngest rosters in the league over the past three seasons, Dynamo 2 are currently in the midst of a strong campaign, already clinching their place in the MLS NEXT Pro 2026 Playoffs and currently sitting third in the Western Conference with a 13-6-5 (WLD) record on 48 points.
TRANSACTION: Houston Dynamo 2 signed defender Gabriel William on loan from Ituano FC in Brazil through June 2027.
