Pacific FC announced on Tuesday the signing of dominant Portuguese centre-back Pedro Machado to a guaranteed professional contract for 2025, with an option for 2026.

A product of Portugal’s highly-competitive footballing system, Machado is a modern defender who is strong in the tackle and a true leader at the back.

Machado, 28, played last season for Finnish Premier Division club IFK Mariehamn, appearing for the club 24 times. At six-foot-three, Machado has been an imposing presence through his a lengthy career in Europe, primarily in Portugal.

Born in Amadora, Portugal, Machado spent his youth career with Quarteirense and Louletano. He spent the early years of his senior career playing his trade in the lower divisions of Portuguese soccer before making his professional debut. in 2019 with Casa Pia AC, where he made 26 appearances, followed by a 27-game stun with UD Oliveirense in 2020. Machado had a brief stint in Romania’s FC U Craiova in 2022 before returning to Portugal’s SC União Torreense and later Vitória Setúbal FC in 2023.

Known for his positional awareness, Machado’s mix of technical ability, tactical intelligence, and physical dominance makes him a standout presence on the pitch. He joins Pacific defenders Christian Greco-Taylor, Aly Ndom, Juan Quintana, Kadin Chung, Georges Mukumbilwa, Eric Lajeunesse in the backline.