Sporting KC II signs Brazilian right back Lucas Rosa
Sporting Kansas City II announced today that the club have signed 25-year-old Brazilian right-back Lucas Rosa on a MLS NEXT Pro pro contract, subject to obtaining his P1 visa.
Rosa is beginning his pro career in Kansas City after leading the Pittsburgh Panthers to the 2022 NCAA Men’s College Cup last December. The talented defenseman recorded two goals and six assists while starting all 22 games for a Pitt side that finished the year 12-5-5 and advanced to the national semifinals before falling to Indiana. Rosa played all but 24 minutes all season and delivered consistently on the big stage, including the match-winning assist in a 1-0 win over Portland in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
Born and raised in Brazil, Rosa captained his club team Atibaia/Ferroviaria in Sao Paulo State before moving to the United States to begin his collegiate soccer career at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. He spent three seasons at Red Flash from 2017-2019 and made an immediate impact as a freshman, contributing four goals and three assists in 17 games as a Northeast Conference All-Rookie Team honoree.
After a shortened second season due to injury, Rosa enjoyed a successful 2019 season with Saint Francis as Northeastern Conference Player of the Year and a member of the United Soccer Coaches All Northeast Region team. In 15 starts, he recorded 11 goals and two assists.
Saint Francis’ 2020 football season was canceled due to Covid and Rosa moving to ACC heavyweight Pittsburgh in 2021. He didn’t take part in the program during his freshman year but thrived as a graduate senior last fall, cementing the position of right-back for one of the top collegiate teams in the country.
With the addition of Rosa, Sporting KC II now have 17 players signed to MLS NEXT Pro professional contracts entering the 2023 campaign.
Sporting KC II roster (as of March 1, 2023)
Led by head coach and longtime Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC II will take on USL championship club FC Tulsa on Saturday at 1pm CT in a continuation of the club’s Central Bank presented continuation of the club’s 2023 preseason. The MLS NEXT Pro regular season begins in late March with an expanded 28-club field and the league fixture list will be released shortly.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City II signs defenseman Lucas Rosa to an MLS NEXT pro contract.
Luca Rosa
Position: defender
Born: 08/25/1997 (25 years old)
Height: 5-8
Weight: 163 pounds.
Place of Birth: Atibaia, Brazil
Citizenship: Brazil
Twitter: @luucasfreeitas5