John Kennedy, the young Fluminense striker who shone in the 2023 Libertadores victory, is now at the center of a battle among several clubs. He emerged as a revelation at Fluminense, showcasing talent and a knack for scoring. In 2023, he was a key player in Fluminense’s historic Libertadores campaign, putting his name in the international spotlight. However, 2024 brought a different scenario. The young striker, who once dazzled with his skill and precision, is now facing a period of uncertainty and fluctuations.
St. Louis CITY SC’s interest came as a breath of fresh air. The American team, looking to establish itself in MLS, saw in Kennedy a potential to be polished. The talks between the clubs started promisingly, but who said transfer sagas are simple? While the Americans were still mulling over a formal offer, Toluca-MEX, moving with the agility of a predator, advanced and presented an irresistible offer of 7 million euros.
On one hand, we have Fluminense, a club in urgent need of bolstering its finances. On the other, there’s John Kennedy, a young player going through a turbulent period, with underwhelming performances and off-field issues.
For Kennedy, this could be the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Leaving Brazil, putting behind the criticism and constant pressure, and facing a new challenge. And what about St. Louis CITY SC? Losing a promising player to a direct competitor is a hard blow. But the market is like that, relentless and full of twists. St. Louis must look for other options.
Since January, John Kennedy has been coveted by several clubs around the world, such as: Real Betis, Krasnodar, Genk, Ludogorets, Braga, Toluca, and more recently, St. Louis CITY SC. The only team that had made a formal offer until now was Lyon, but now Toluca seems to have checkmated all these teams.
