Manchester City bring Brazil star Kerolin to WSL in transfer coup | OneFootball

Manchester City have signed Kerolin on a three-and-a-half-year deal after the sought-after Brazilian’s contract with North Carolina Courage ran out.

The 25-year-old forward, who has 45 caps for Brazil, won the Challenge Cup twice with the Courage, including in 2023, when she became the first player from South America to be named the National Women’s Soccer League’s most valuable player.

“I’m so excited to be here,” she said. “There were a lot of reasons why I chose City and one of those was to play in the Champions League. I think the players [in the Women’s Super League] are really technical and the team is compact. I want to be better, to learn different things and be challenged, also play against the defenders who will play in the next World Cup in Brazil in 2027.”

Kerolin, who won a silver medal with Brazil at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, is City’s third January signing as they attempt to alleviate an injury crisis that has stalled their WSL campaign.

Two key forwards, Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw, are out injured. Hemp has had knee surgery and Shaw is yet to make her return to action after a lower leg injury, although is said to be close. Despite their absences, the duo have the most WSL assists (Hemp) and goals (Shaw) this season. In addition the England defender Alex Greenwood will miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury before Christmas.

Without the influential trio, Gareth Taylor’s side have lost three of their past four WSL games, leaving them fourth and nine points behind the leaders, Chelsea, at the halfway point of the season.

The German defender Rebecca Knaak, who scored her first goal for her new team in the 4-2 loss to Manchester United on Sunday, has been recruited from the Swedish side Rosengård to help counteract the loss of the influential Greenwood and fellow centre-back Alanna Kennedy, who has joined the NWSL side Angel City. City have also signed the Japan Under-20 midfielder Aemu Oyama from Tokyo Verdy Beleza.

The deal for Kerolin moves Chloe Kelly one step closer to the exit door. The England forward has fallen out of favour at City and is believed to be keen on a move to increase her chances of making the England squad for the Euros in the summer.

The Manchester City Women director of football, Therese Sjögran, said: “Kerolin comes to City with a wealth of experience under her belt at just 25, as a fully fledged international, an Olympian and MVP, with a real desire and hunger to take her game to the next level.”

Header image: [Photograph: Manchester City/Declan Lloyd/Manchester City FC]