CINCINNATI – After parts of three seasons in Cincinnati, forward Brenner Souza da Silva is going to get his chance to showcase his immense skills on one of the biggest soccer stages in the world.

FC Cincinnati announced Wednesday it’s agreed to send the 23-year-old known commonly as Brenner to Italian Serie A club Udinese.

The Ohio-based Major League Soccer franchise didn’t disclose terms of the deal, but described it as a “club-record, multimillion-dollar transfer fee.” Citing sources close to the deal, ESPN reported the fee is $10 million, plus undisclosed incentives and a sell-on percentage.

Brenner will remain with FC Cincinnati until the beginning of July because the European transfer window hasn’t yet opened. His last game wearing the Orange and Blue is July 1, against the New England Revolution at TQL Stadium.

“We’re extremely happy for Brenner that he’s able to make this move and play in one of the biggest leagues in Europe,” Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati’s general manager, said in a statement.

Brenner has one goal in seven appearances for FC Cincinnati this season. (Photo courtesy of FC Cincinnati)

Brenner joined FC Cincinnati as a Young Designated Player on Feb. 9, 2021 through a transfer from São Paulo FC in Brazil. The then-21-year-old wasted little time showcasing his offensive skills, scoring in his first game against Nashville SC

The goal-minded forward finished his rookie campaign with eight tallies, then a team record. He blew past that goal total the following season, scoring 18 times across all competitions. He also added six assists.

Brenner and forward Brandon Vazquez became the first MLS teammates to each record 18 or more goals in a season.

The 2022 season was a breakout campaign for more than just Brenner and Vazquez. The duo joined midfielder Luciano Acosta to lead FCC to its first berth in the MLS playoffs.

“It’s tough to lose such a talented player,” said Curtis Bailey, a regular at FC Cincinnati matches the past few years.

Over parts of three seasons, Brenner has scored 27 goals and eight assists in 72 appearances. His six game-winning goals are the most in FC Cincinnati history.

Bailey described Brenner as a European-caliber talent and a major reason for Cincinnati’s success last season. Despite his talent, though, Brenner always felt like he had “one foot out the door,” Bailey said.

Scott Griffith, a longtime FC Cincinnati season-ticket holder, said fans had high hopes for Brenner since the day he arrived in the Queen City. But it didn’t always appear he’d live up to that type. FC Cincinnati finished last in the league his first year.

Brenner hasn’t made a major impact so far in seven appearances this season. His lone goal was a game-winner against Seattle Sounders in early March.

Still, Brenner’s arrival represented culture shift for FC Cincinnati that took them from a perennial bottom-dweller to one of the top teams in MLS, Griffith said. The club sits in second place in the Eastern Conference. Their 20 points are second-most in the entire league.

“(FC Cincinnati) will continue to bring in skilled players with high upside that can keep Cincy at the top of the table,” he added.

In his statement, Albright stressed FC Cincinnati’s commitment to developing players as a way of attracting the best talent from around the world. He called the Brenner move a “significant transfer for our club and (a) testament to everything our staff has done in the past year and a half.”

He added ownership has vowed to continue to give the front office the resources to compete, saying this transfer only adds to that commitment.

“Our ultimate goal at FC Cincinnati is to win games for our incredible fans,” Albright added.