# Kauê (footballer, born 2004)
**Kauê Rodrigues Pessanha** (born 2004) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Porto B in [Liga Portugal 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/liga-portugal-2), having been developed by Botafogo, with whom he won the 2024 [Copa Libertadores](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-libertadores) and the Brasileirão Série A.[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) He should not be confused with Kauê Vinicius de Souza Camargo, a goalkeeper born 2004 who plays for Corinthians.[2](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kaue/profil/spieler/1005653)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kauê Rodrigues Pessanha[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) |
| Born | 2004, Quissamã, Rio de Janeiro[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) |
| Position | Midfielder (has played as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, and forward)[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) • [3](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2023/04/11/botafogo-renova-com-kaue-joia-do-sub-20-ate-2026.ghtml) |
| Height / foot | 1.75 m; right-footed[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) |
| Botafogo record | 30 senior appearances, 4 goals, 3 assists (2024 to July 2025)[4](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2025/07/19/botafogo-acerta-a-transferencia-de-kaue-para-o-porto.ghtml) |
| Honors | Copa Libertadores 2024; Brasileirão Série A 2024[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) |
| Current club | FC Porto B (Liga Portugal 2), joined July 2025 on a five-year contract[4](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2025/07/19/botafogo-acerta-a-transferencia-de-kaue-para-o-porto.ghtml) |
## Youth career at Botafogo
Kauê is a product of the Botafogo youth system. Born in Quissamã, in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro state, he joined the club in 2017 after being identified by Botafogo's recruitment department at a project in [Macaé](https://www.edgepedia.org/macae). He quickly became a leading figure of the club's 2004 generation and won the Carioca Sub-13 title in his first year.[5](https://botafogo.com.br/noticias/contrato-assinado) He progressed through the Sub-15, Sub-17, and Sub-20 sides, playing for the Under-20 team while still only 16.[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/)
**First professional contract.** On 16 November 2020, at age 16, he signed his first professional contract with Botafogo at the Estádio Nilton Santos, running until November 2023, the maximum term permitted by law at that age. At the time he was a defensive midfielder in the Brazil Under-17 squad.[5](https://botafogo.com.br/noticias/contrato-assinado) In April 2023, with the earlier contract due to expire at the end of June and a free pre-contract move possible, Botafogo renewed his deal until April 2026 with a salary increase; he had already trained occasionally with the first team under Luís Castro.[3](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2023/04/11/botafogo-renova-com-kaue-joia-do-sub-20-ate-2026.ghtml)
## International youth career
Kauê was first called up by Brazil in 2018, alongside Matheus Nascimento, and won the South American Under-15 Championship in 2019.[5](https://botafogo.com.br/noticias/contrato-assinado) In 2021, while still 17, he was called up to the Brazil Under-20 squad for a quadrangular tournament in [Espírito Santo](https://www.edgepedia.org/espirito-santo).[6](https://www.botafogo.com.br/noticias/kau-sele-o)
## Botafogo first team
He reached the professional squad at the start of 2024 and debuted against Bangu in the Campeonato Carioca. His first senior goal came against Boavista in the 2024 Cariocão, and at 19 he was part of the Botafogo squad that won the Copa Libertadores, beating Atlético Mineiro in the final, as well as the Brasileirão Série A title.[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) Across his time in the professional squad he made 30 appearances with 4 goals and 3 assists, and was one of the few homegrown players in the first team, though his playing time declined after new signings.[4](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2025/07/19/botafogo-acerta-a-transferencia-de-kaue-para-o-porto.ghtml)
## Transfer to Porto
In July 2025 Botafogo agreed to transfer Kauê to Porto in Portugal. Because he was close to being able to sign a pre-contract with another club from September and no renewal had been agreed, no fee was paid at the outset. Botafogo retained 50% of his economic rights, with Porto able to secure a further 30% for €3 million (about R$ 19.4 million at the time) and €1.5 million payable on meeting performance targets. He signed a five-year contract and was initially assigned to Porto B.[4](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2025/07/19/botafogo-acerta-a-transferencia-de-kaue-para-o-porto.ghtml)
In his first Portuguese season he established himself in Porto B's Liga Portugal 2 side: through matchday 27 he had made 25 league appearances totaling 1,856 minutes, with 1 goal and 2 assists.[7](https://www.ligaportugal.pt/backoffice/assets/Portimonense_FC_Porto_B_Jornada_27_a8af968cde.pdf)
## Playing style
Kauê is a versatile midfielder. Botafogo used him as a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder, and his youth career included spells as a forward; his strengths noted by the club include opening up play and shooting from outside the area.[1](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/) • [4](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2025/07/19/botafogo-acerta-a-transferencia-de-kaue-para-o-porto.ghtml)
## References
1. [Kauê – Meu Botafogo](https://meubotafogo.com.br/jogador/kaue-botafogo/)
2. [Kauê – Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kaue/profil/spieler/1005653)
3. [Botafogo renova com Kauê, joia do sub-20, até 2026 – ge](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2023/04/11/botafogo-renova-com-kaue-joia-do-sub-20-ate-2026.ghtml)
4. [Botafogo acerta a transferência de Kauê para o Porto – ge](https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/botafogo/noticia/2025/07/19/botafogo-acerta-a-transferencia-de-kaue-para-o-porto.ghtml)
5. [Contrato Assinado – Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas](https://botafogo.com.br/noticias/contrato-assinado)
6. [Kauê é Seleção – Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas](https://www.botafogo.com.br/noticias/kau-sele-o)
7. [Liga Portugal 2 – Jornada 27, Portimonense x FC Porto B](https://www.ligaportugal.pt/backoffice/assets/Portimonense_FC_Porto_B_Jornada_27_a8af968cde.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Brazilian men's footballers › Contemporary Brazilian footballers › Brazilian footballers born in the 2000s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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