Transfer Rumor: Orlando City Linked to Brazilian Defender Paulo André

Our Portuguese is a little rusty (read: nonexistent) but it appears that 31-year-old Brazilian defender Paulo André may be on his way to Orlando.

Marcel Rizzo from the daily Folha de S. Paulo newspaper linked the André to a move to Orlando City SC in his Painel FC column today. Rizzo writes that the former Corinthians defender is terminating his contract with Shanghai Shenua in China to sign with the Lions.

André played in 23 matches with Shanghai Shenua in 2014 (22 as a starter), logging 1,904 minutes. Prior to the move to China, he made 100 appearances with Brazilian giants Corinthians from 2009-2014, scoring 10 goals. Previously, he played for Le Mans in France from 2006-09.

He was a member of Corinthians sides that won the Brazilian Serie A in 2011 and both the Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup in 2012. His performance in Brazil in 2011 earned him the Silver Ball at his position. His sides also won the Campeonato Paulista and Recopa Sudamericana in 2013.

How likely is this move for Orlando City? Well, we know the Lions need depth on the back line and we’ve heard rumblings for quite some time that the club was seeking a veteran international defender. André fits the bill for experience and at 31 likely still has some spring in his legs. He has decent size at 6-foot-2 and he has played at a high level in Brazil’s top flight.

On a scale of 1-10 of coming to pass, I’ll give this rumor a solid seven.

Here’s a dated, but impressive, highlight film: