About Japa
Born 2004. Japa is an association football player.
João Wellington Gadelha Melo de Oliveira (born 2 January 2004), commonly known as Japa, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Mirassol, on loan from Cruzeiro.
Career Japa was born in Goianinha, Rio Grande do Norte. A Cruzeiro youth graduate, he signed his first professional contract with the club on 14 December 2021. On 16 May 2023, he further extended his link until 2026.
Japa made his professional – and Série A – debut on 22 October 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow youth graduate Kaiki Bruno in a 1–0 away win over rivals Atlético Mineiro. Definitely promoted to the first team for the 2024 season, he featured rarely before suffering a serious thigh injury in January 2025, which sidelined him for more than ten months.
Japa scored his first senior goal on 14 January 2026, netting his side's second in a 2–1 Campeonato Mineiro away win over Tombense.
Career statistics
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Important facts
People in Japa's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Japa's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Japa?
Brazilian footballer (born 2004)
When was Japa born?
Japa was born on 2 January 2004.
What is Japa's occupation?
Japa is an association football player.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Japa (footballer, born 2004)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Japa. https://biography.guide/japa-association-football-player/
MLA: "Japa." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/japa-association-football-player/.
Chicago: "Japa." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/japa-association-football-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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