December 7, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – North Carolina FC News Release
CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC has signed veteran midfielder Rodrigo da Costa to a two-year contract through the 2025 season, pending league and federation approval. The 29-year-old Brazilian has 76 total goal contributions across five seasons in the USL Championship.
Da Costa has 48 goals and 28 assists across all competitions in the USL Championship. He’s played 151 matches, logging 12,419 minutes. Set to turn 30 in December, da Costa is FC Tulsa’s all-time scoring leader. He joined on with Tulsa in 2019 and spent the first four-plus seasons of his USL Championship career there before a blockbuster trade to Memphis 901 FC early in 2023.
“Rodrigo is a proven playmaker in this league, and we’re thrilled to add him to our attacking group. He’s performed at a high level in the USL Championship for a long time and he will be a great fit for what we want to do in the attack. We’re delighted that he and his wife Chelsea believe in what we’re building here and have chosen to make the Triangle home,” said NCFC head coach and sporting director John Bradford.
“I am really excited with this opportunity to represent NCFC. I only hear good things about the club and the city, so I can’t wait to get to work. I believe in the mission of the club and vision of the coaching staff, so this was an easy decision,” says da Costa.
Da Costa scored 14 goals and had four assists in 36 matches between Tulsa and Memphis in 2023, the second time he’s reached double figures in scoring in a USL Championship season for his career (2021). He made an immediate impact on the Championship in his debut season of 209, scoring nine goals and adding 13 assists for 22 goal contributions. He’s posted double-digit total goal contributions in four of his five seasons in the league.
Da Costa is the first new signing announced by North Carolina FC ahead of the club’s return to the USL Championship in 2024. The team now has 14 players under contract for the 2024 season.
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