Orlando Pride Sign Brazilian International Midfielder Angelina Through 2026

The Orlando Pride have agreed to a three-year contract through the 2026 NWSL season with Brazilian international midfielder Angelina Alonso Costantino, commonly known as Angelina. The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent and has been receiving regular international call-ups with Brazil. She spent her last three club seasons with OL Reign. A native of Jersey City, NJ, Angelina will not require the club to use an international slot.

“Angelina is a dynamic midfielder, with tremendous potential, who has already demonstrated the ability to make impactful contributions at both the club and international levels,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Angelina was a priority free agent target for the club because her spatial awareness, creativity, and ball control in build-up play are exactly what we look for in our midfielders. We’re confident she’ll thrive in our performance environment, and we consider ourselves fortunate to help her continue her growth and development here in Orlando. We expect Angelina will be a key piece for the club moving forward and are thrilled to have her in purple!”

Angelina began her professional soccer career in Brazil with Santos, where she played from 2017-2019, making her debut as a 17-year-old in May of 2017. She had been part of Brazil’s youth setup since 2016, making three appearances that year with that country’s U-17 side. She also played 13 times with the U-20 squad from 2017-2020, and she was named to the IFFHS CONMEBOL Youth Women Team of the Year in 2020. Angelina has 20 first-team caps with Brazil since 2021, scoring her first international goal against Argentina on Sept. 20, 2021.

She spent the 2020 season in Brazil with Palmeiras, making 14 appearances, joining OL Reign on Jan. 5, 2021 and making her NWSL/Reign debut on April 16, 2021 in a Challenge Cup game against the Houston Dash. In three seasons with OL Reign, Angelina has appeared in 28 matches, including four during the 2023 NWSL campaign. She has registered one goal contribution, an assist against Racing Louisville during the 2022 season. 

In four games in 2023, Angelina played 33 total minutes. She did not record a goal contribution or attempt a shot this season but did have a key pass, finishing with an 82.4% passing rate. Her 2022 season was cut short due to an ACL injury that she picked up while playing for Brazil in the Copa America final on July 30. That recovery spilled into the 2023 season, and she made her return on Aug. 18 as a substitute against Kansas City.  

“I am really looking forward to being a part of the Orlando Pride,” Angelina said in the club’s press release. “It’s such an exciting opportunity that the team has to make history moving forward. My goal is to help this team achieve great things and be a part of a championship side. I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates and all of the fans in the city of Orlando!” 

What It Means for Orlando

Angelina is obviously a player the Pride valued and prioritized this off-season, as evidenced by the club giving her a three-year deal. At just 23 years old, she has a lot of upside, projecting as a No. 8 in the Pride midfield, but with the flexibility to play on the wing as well, if needed. She is a player who has obvious familiarity playing between Rafaelle behind her and Marta and Adriana beside her or ahead of her on the pitch.

The club’s press release does not mention Allocation Money and Angelina does not require an international slot. That means the club didn’t have to use the international slot it gained in Tuesday’s trade with Utah, when the Pride sent goalkeeper Carly Nelson west. It also means the player’s price tag was likely quite reasonable. There is a lot of potential value in this signing from the club’s standpoint and Orlando could use more players capable of shaping a pass through lines to speedy attackers like Adriana, Ally Watt, and Messiah Bright.

Having lost Mikayla Cluff to Utah Royals FC earlier this off-season to acquire expansion draft immunity, the Pride were in the market for another midfielder. This move projects as a low-risk one with potentially a high reward, and it will be interesting to see how it pans out for the Pride in the coming seasons.