North Carolina FC is proud to announce Rodrigo da Costa as the first new signing ahead of 2024’s return to the USL Championship. The veteran midfielder brings five seasons of USL Championship experience to the Triangle.
Terrific in Tulsa
Da Costa is the all-time scoring leader for Tulsa FC of the USL Championship. He spent the first four-plus seasons of his professional career with the club, appearing in 124 matches with 35 goals and 25 assists for 60 total goal contributions in 10,358 minutes. He scored nine times and added 13 assists in his debut campaign in 2019, posting double-digit goal contributions in four of his five professional seasons, only failing to do so in the shortened 2020 season.
Change of Scenery
After Tulsa FC got off to a slow start to the 2023 season, they made a major shakeup in trading their all-time scoring leader da Costa to Memphis 901 FC for attacker Phillip Goodrum. Da Costa scored his first goal for his new club within a week of making his Memphis debut and would go on to score 11 goals and add three assists in just 25 matches with Memphis.
A Brazilian Connection
Da Costa becomes the third Brazilian on the NCFC roster, joining returners Rafa Mentzingen and Daniel Navarro. North Carolina FC mainstay Pecka, who spent the last four seasons on the roster, will also remain with the club in a coaching and administrative capacity in 2024, giving da Costa, who turns 30 in December, a taste of home in the Triangle. He also had three fellow Brazilians with him in Memphis last season.
