Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today that the club has signed Brazilian midfielder Thaisa de Moraes Rosa Moreno, pending receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Thaisa, as she is more commonly known, brings both FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic experience to Sky Blue FC, providing the New Jersey club with an accomplished player who has proven success on the world stage.
“Thaisa is a distinguished international with outstanding ability on both sides of the ball,” said Denise Reddy, Sky Blue FC head coach. “Her experience and expertise as a midfield motor will be a huge addition to our roster.”
Thaisa, 28, made her debut for the Brazil Women’s National Team in September of 2013 in a 1-0 win over New Zealand, and she scored her first international goal that December in a 2-0 defeat of Chile. Since joining the senior team, she has made 49 appearances and scored four goals for Brazil. She played in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 when the competition was held in Canada, and she also participated in the Olympic Games for the first time last summer in her native Brazil.
“Needless to say, we are incredibly excited to have Thaisa coming to New Jersey,” said Tony Novo, Sky Blue FC President & General Manager. “She is an internationally accomplished player who will provide a huge boost as our roster continues to take shape for the 2018 season. Her leadership and style of play will be a tremendous addition to our team.”
A native of Xambrê, Brazil, Thaisa returns to the United States in 2018 after attending college stateside from 2007-2010. She began her collegiate career at Feather River College in California for two years before finishing at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida. Following two standout seasons at FIU, she began her professional club career with Brazilian side Foz Cataratas in 2011 before winning the Campeonato Paulista with Ferroviária and the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino with Centro Olímpico in 2013. With three of her Brazil Women’s National Team stablemates, she then made the move to Sweden in January of 2014 to Tyresö FF of the top-level Damallsvenskan league, joining their national teammate and five-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Marta. Also on that club was U.S. Women’s National Team members Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberg and Christen Press, with Tyresö FF advancing all the way to the UEFA Champions League Final against German side VfL Wolfsburg.
Thaisa returned to Ferroviária later that year before spending 2015 with América Mineiro in Minas Gerais and 2016 with São José Esporte Clube. Most recently, she spent the 2017 season with Grindavík of Úrvalsdeild kvenna, the top-tier women’s soccer league in Iceland.
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