NJ/NY Gotham FC has signed 20-year-old Brazilian international defender Bruninha through the 2023 season, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate, the National Women’s Soccer League was announced on Tuesday.
Bruninha joins the club from Santos FC of the first division league Brasileirão Feminino Neoenergia, which transferred her rights to Gotham FC in exchange for a transfer fee that was not announced by the team.
With Santos FC, Bruninha won the 2021 “Bola de Prata” (Silver Ball) as the “revelation of the tournament.” She is captaining her country at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup. She has played all four games of the tournament, starting three, and has helped anchor a defense that has not conceded a goal during the team’s march to Thursday’s semifinal.
Earlier this year, Bruninha and her team won the Campeonato Sudamericano Femenino Sub-20. Brazil won all of its tournament matches without conceding a goal.
“Bruninha has a terrific understanding of the game at such a young age,” Gotham FC general manager Yael Averbuch West said in a statement. “She’s already such a polished player and playing in the NWSL will only help make her better. The sky is the limit for her, and I’m so excited to watch her flourish at Gotham FC.”
Gotham FC’s next home match takes place against Angel City FC on Aug 28 at 5 p.m. at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
