Whitecaps transfer M Caio Alexandre to Brazilian club

The Vancouver Whitecaps have transferred midfielder Caio Alexandre to Fortaleza EC after he met performance triggers during his loan to the Brazilian club.

The Whitecaps also received a sell-on fee as Alexandre, who turns 25 in February, was subsequently transferred to Brazilian side Esporte Clube Bahia.

"When we extended Caio's loan with Fortaleza, we structured it in a way to benefit all parties," Whitecaps FC sporting director Axel Schuster said in a news release Saturday. "We are pleased to have finalized this transfer and wish Caio all the best in this next chapter of his career."

A native of Duque de Caxias, Brazil, Alexandre was acquired by Vancouver in March 2021 from Brazilian club Botafogo FR. He signed a contract through 2024. He joined Fortaleza in August 2022, with the loan extended from December 2022 to the end of 2023.

Alexandre last played for the Whitecaps in 2022, when he made five appearances across all competitions after recovering from a fifth metatarsal fracture in his left foot and a left-hand fracture.

In his 2021 debut season, the midfielder started 11 of his 15 appearances for the MLS club, recording one assist before the foot injury in August, sidelining him for the rest of the year.