Kansas City Current sign free agent midfielder Debinha to multi-year contract

The Kansas City Current have signed free agent midfielder Débora Cristiane de Oliveira, commonly known as Debinha (deh-BEEN-yuh). One of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, the Brazilian national is signed with the club through the 2024 season with a third-year option.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Debinha to Kansas City,” said co-owners Angie and Chris Long. “Debinha is one of the most talented, accomplished, and well-known players in the world. Her name is synonymous with excellence. We can’t wait for Kansas City to have the special opportunity to watch Debinha play and cheer her on.” 

“As a professional athlete, I always want to get better and to be on a competitive team that fights for titles, with excellent professionals,” said Debinha. “I'm sure it will help me in that goal and Kansas City showed that last season. The plan that the club has shown me left me really motivated, because of the entire training facility and the construction of a stadium for a women's team. All of this made me want to be part of it and made me think about being here today. I'm happy for this new journey that is just beginning.” 

More world-class talent in Kansas City 🇧🇷

Welcome, @Debinha7 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ijrk3rI0q5

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) January 9, 2023

After representing Brazil at the 2010 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Debinha made her senior team debut on Oct. 18, 2011, two days shy of her 20th birthday. Since then she has 129 caps for Brazil, including the 2016 and 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2019 FIFA World Cup.  She has 57 goals for her home country. 

Debinha began her professional career in 2011 with Brazilian club Centro Olímpico before signing with Avaldsnes IL in the Norwegian first division, Toppserian, where she scored 23 goals in 30 appearances. Prior to the 2016 season, she signed to play with Dalian Quanjian F.C. in China. 

Debinha is one of the best players in the world and we are so excited to have her in Kansas City,” said general manager Camille Levin Ashton. “She's a force on the pitch and has shown that over the last decade. She will be a tremendous contributor to the team, and we are happy to have her on our side." 

Coming to the NWSL in 2017, Debinha signed with the North Carolina Courage and helped her team to three straight NWSL Championship matches, two championship wins and three straight NWSL Shields. After scoring the opening goal in the 2019 title match, she was named the NWSL Championship MVP. She ranks fifth all-time in NWSL Playoff goals with three in six games. 

In addition to her playoff prowess, Debinha has shined in the NWSL’s annual Challenge Cup tournament. She owns the record for most goals all-time with nine (Kristen Hamilton ranks second with seven). She helped the Courage to a tournament win in 2021 and was twice named the Challenge Cup MVP (2021, 2022).