*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:21, 24 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:15, 16 October 2024 (UTC)
Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Pereira moved to Portugal at a young age, joining Sporting CP's youth system at the age of 14. On 18 January 2014, whilst still a junior, he made his debut as a senior with the B team, coming on as a 46th-minute substitute for Cristian Ponde in a 1–1 away draw against C.D. Trofense in the Segunda Liga.[3] He scored his first goal in the competition on 7 March of the following year, contributing to a 4–3 home win over C.D. Tondela.[4]
Pereira was loaned to fellow Primeira Liga club G.D. Chaves in the 2017–18 campaign.[10] He scored seven league goals during his spell (eight overall), helping them to a sixth-place finish.[11]
On 31 August 2018, the last day of the summer transfer window, Pereira joined 1. FC Nürnberg on loan until the end of the season[12][13] after criticising José Peseiro's choice of not selecting him to the first match against Moreirense F.C. on social media.[14] He made his Bundesliga debut 16 days later, playing 61 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against SV Werder Bremen.[15]
Pereira scored his first league goal on 30 March 2019, helping the hosts defeat FC Augsburg 3–0.[16] He was nominated for the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award, but his team suffered relegation after finishing last.[17]
On 20 June 2020, after the player had appeared in the required number of matches, a buyout clause was triggered, obligating the club into Pereira’s purchase.[20] The following month, he won the Supporters’ Player of the Season award after collecting 65% of the votes.[21]
Despite the buyout clause being met months earlier, it took until 17 August 2020 for Pereira to be officially announced as an Albion player, eventually signing a four-year contract.[22] To ensure the player’s focus remained on the field, the board decided to leave the negotiations until after the season had ended.[23]
On 3 April 2021, Pereira scored a brace in first-half stoppage time in an eventual 5–2 win at Chelsea; this sealed Albion's first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1978, and handed Thomas Tuchel his first loss as the opposition's head coach.[26] On 9 May, his tenth goal of the season – becoming the first club player to get on double digits since Saido Berahino in 2014–15 – amounted to nothing because his team lost 3–1 at Arsenal and confirmed their relegation.[27]
On 1 August 2021, recently appointed manager Valérien Ismaël announced that Pereira would leave the club before the end of the transfer window, accusing him of "not being committed".[28] The following day, the latter released a statement on his social media accounts, confirming that he wished to leave but also expressing anger at the former's comments, branding them "disrespectful".[29]
In July 2023, also on loan, Pereira joined Cruzeiro Esporte Clube.[33] On 17 June 2024, having totalled seven goals and ten assists from 40 appearances until that point, he signed a permanent two-year contract for an undisclosed amount.[34]
^"Matheus preserva estatuto" [Matheus preserves status]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 September 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
^Silva Reis, Paulo (15 August 2018). "SAD do Chaves está atenta a Matheus Pereira" [Chaves PLSC keeping an eye on Matheus Pereira]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 September 2018.
