FC Dallas confirms Jesus Ferreira DP designation, contract extension

FRISCO — FC Dallas confirmed Jesus Ferreira has signed a contract extension that will make him a designated player starting this year.

Terms of the deal were not announced, but The Athletic reported earlier this month that Ferreira is in line to receive just under $2 million a year. That would make him the second highest paid player on the team, but since Ferreira is a designated player under the age of 23, his charge against the FCD cap will be just $200,000. 

The contract is a four-year extension with the club holding an option on the 2026 season. FCD still has one open DP slot.

"We’re super excited," FC Dallas technical director Andre Zanotta said. "Jesus’ performance and his background here and his club (mean) he deserves to be compensated, and we’re thrilled to have him for a longer term here with us."

The son of David Ferreira, who won the league's MVP award in 2010, Ferreira long has represented FC Dallas. He started in the club's academy at age 8 and climbed the ranks. He signed a homegrown deal in 2016 and made his professional debut in 2017. He scored a goal in his only appearance.

He became a regular in 2019 under coach Luchi Gonzalez, who also had managed Ferreira in the academy. After a down year in 2020, Ferreira enjoyed a bounce-back campaign in 2021 with eight goals and nine assists, one of few bright spots in a year that saw FCD slump to only seven wins.

"Even though we had a tough year, Jesus was one of the very, very positive aspects we had last year, and him being in the national team, we hope and believe the way he’s playing he has a good chance to be in the World Cup," Zanotta said. "We’re going to do everything we can here to help him achieve that goal."

Ferreira is currently with the U.S. national team at training camp in Arizona. The Colombian-American started representing Team USA in 2020 after obtaining his U.S. citizenship, and he was called into the Stars and Stripes' November qualification matches, seeing substitute minutes in both games.

A versatile attacker, the 21-year-old spent the last two seasons in a playmaking role, but both U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter and new FC Dallas manager Nico Estévez have said they see Ferreira operating more as a forward.

"I think we all know Jesus is a Number 9 (who) then had to adapt to a different position because of the quality of other players like Jara and Pepi," Estévez said earlier this month. "He had to adapt because he’s a very smart player, but he’s going to be a 9 for us."

His father's two-year spell in Dallas certainly made a mark, part of a 20-year career David only ended in 2019. While David continuing his professional career in Colombia made it difficult for him to help Jesus on the training field, the father said he did what he could to help his son develop as a professional.

"I try to give him a lot of advice when I talk to him," David told me in 2019. "I've told him that in this profession, humility is fundamental. I think football is beautiful, and it gives you a lot, but you have to have balance."

"You can't imagine the pride I feel," he added.

Now, the Ferreiras have made history as the first ever father-son designated player pairing in MLS history.

“My dad was a big part FC Dallas and his name stays here in Dallas,” Jesus Ferreira told the club's official site. “When I first signed, I wanted to make sure that they don’t remember me because of my dad. I want to make sure that they remember me, Jesus."

At a club with a culture of selling players, Jesus Ferreira's new deal may ensure exactly that.