Luiz Fernando (footballer, born 1997)

Luiz Fernando Nascimento (born 23 June 1997) is a Brazilian footballer currently playing for USL Championship side New Mexico United.

Luiz Fernando

Personal information
Full name	Luiz Fernando Nascimento
Date of birth	(1997-06-23) 23 June 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Brazil
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Corinthians
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
0000–2016	Flamengo de Guarulhos	0	(0)
2016–2018	Richmond Kickers	77	(7)
2019–2020	Atlanta United 2	33	(2)
2019–2020	Atlanta United	0	(0)
2021	Tampa Bay Rowdies	0	(0)
2022–2024	Memphis 901	85	(15)
2024–	New Mexico United	13	(4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 June 2025

Youth

Luiz Fernando played for the Sport Club Corinthians Paulista youth academy and played for their U-20 team. He also played briefly for Flamengo de Guarulhos.

Professional

Luiz Fernando signed with the Richmond Kickers on 23 February 2016.^[1] On 26 March 2016, Luiz Fernando made his professional debut for the Kickers, coming on for Yudai Imura in the 75th minute, en route to a 3–1 victory over the Harrisburg City Islanders.^[2] On 18 May 2016, Luiz Fernando scored his first goal for the Kickers in a U.S. Open Cup fixture against Aromas Café FC, scoring in the 83rd minute of the match en route to a 4–0 victory.^[3] Fernando remained a mainstay on the Kickers throughout the 2017 and 2018 seasons, tallying 78 total appearances, scoring 6 goals.

On 19 November 2018, Fernando signed for USL Championship side Atlanta United 2.^[4]

Fernando became the first second-team player to sign a first-team contract with Atlanta United on 21 August 2019.^[5] Fernando made his Atlanta United debut on 26 February 2020 in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Motagua.

On 1 July 2020 Fernando was waived by Atlanta United which cleared an international roster slot for Mexican winger Jürgen Damm who was signed the same day.^[6]

On 30 December 2020, it was announced that Fernando would join USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies ahead of their 2021 season.^[7] Following the 2021 season it was announced that Fernando would leave the Rowdies.^[8]

On 17 February 2022, Fernando joined USL Championship club Memphis 901 ahead of their 2022 season.^[9]

On 1 January 2025, New Mexico United announced that Fernando had signed with the club for the 2025 season. ^[10]

Statistics

As of 22 June, 2025

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Other[A]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
United States			League		US Open Cup		USL Playoffs		North America		Total
Richmond Kickers	2016	USL Championship	21	2	2	1	—		—		23	3
	2017		28	2	0	0	—		—		28	2
	2018		28	3	2	2	—		—		30	5
Atlanta United 2	2019		32	2	0	0	—		—		32	2
	2020		1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Atlanta United	2020	Major League Soccer	0	0	0	0	—		1	0	1	0
Tampa Bay Rowdies	2021	USL Championship	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Memphis 901	2022		28	4	1	0	1	0	—		30	4
	2023		27	8	3	0	—		—		30	8
	2024		30	3	2	0	—		—		32	3
New Mexico United	2025		13	4	1	0			—		14	4
Total	United States		208	28	11	3	1	0	1	0	221	31
Career statistics			208	28	11	3	1	0	1	0	221	31