January 22, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current have signed Beatriz Zaneratto João, simply known as Bia, to a contract through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025, pending the receipt of her P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Bia is an extraordinary talent that will impact our team immediately,” said general manager Camille Ashton. “We are excited to welcome her to Kansas City.”
“Bia’s goal scoring ability, creativity in and around the box are extraordinary,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “She is a world-class forward, proven in club and country.”
Bia began her professional career at the age of 13 signing with Brazilian professional club Ferroviária in Brazil before transferring to Santos in 2010. Leaving her home country, Bia transferred first to South Korean club Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. She played 103 matches for the Red Angels, scoring 76 goals and leading the team to seven consecutive WK League titles from 2013 to 2019.
In 2020 she played nine games alongside new Current teammate Temwa Chawinga for Wuhan Jianghan University in the Chinese Women’s Super League and scored seven goals before going back to Brazil on loan with Palmeiras. After two seasons on loan, her transfer to Palmeiras became permanent in 2022, coinciding with her appointment as the team’s captain.
Internationally, Bia hit the world stage at the age of 14, representing Brazil at the 2008 FIFA U-17 World Cup. She began her senior career three years later, with her first cap coming in a 3-0 friendly win over Chile. She has 103 appearances for Brazil with 36 goals. She is a veteran of four FIFA World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019, 2023) and two Olympic games (2016, 2020).
The club will have several announcements this week as the team opens preseason training. The Current will train in Kansas City this week before heading to warm weather training in Irvine, California and Bradenton, Florida. The 2024 regular season will be the first played in CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team.
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