Orlando Pride Sign Swedish Midfielder Evelina Duljan Through 2024

The Orlando Pride announced the signing of 20-year-old Swedish midfielder Evelina Duljan this afternoon. The deal with the former Juventus player is for one year, lasting through the 2024 NWSL season.

“Evelina is a young, versatile athlete with significant potential, and she offers us added depth in our attack,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in a club press release. “She brings pace, technical quality, and a very high soccer IQ. She’s excellent at finding seams, confident taking on defenders, and works tirelessly on both sides of the ball. We’re excited for what she brings to our roster and are fortunate to play a role in her continued growth and development, both on and off the field.” 

Duljan began her professional career at 14 years of age, playing for her hometown club, Kristianstad in the Swedish Damallsvenskan. She also had a loan spell with Vaxjo during 2021 before returning to her parent club.

In Aug. 2023, the midfielder moved to Italy, joining Serie A giants Juventus on a deal through 2025. She spent the season between the first team and the U-19 squad, making 23 appearances in Serie A. Her brief time in Italy saw her lift the Italian Cup and finish second in the league and in the championship round behind champions AS Roma. The player and club agreed to terminate her contract on June 13.

“It feels amazing to be joining this amazing club and to be part of the Orlando Pride family,” Duljan said in a club press release about joining the Pride. “I’m really happy and excited and can’t wait to get started. See you soon!” 

At the international level, Duljan has played for the Sweden U-16, U-17, U-18, and U-19 national teams. In the 2022 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship, she helped her team reach the semifinal, where it was eliminated by the eventual champions, Spain. Duljan played in three games of the tournament, recording an assist.

What It Means for Orlando

Despite signing a one-year deal, Duljan can be a crucial member of the Pride’s future. She’s a versatile player with the ability to play fullback or winger on either side and has spent time as a number 10. Her most significant attribute is her dribbling ability, enabling her to use her agility to attack defenders one-on-one.

She’s unlikely to see much playing time this season because the Pride’s starting lineup is pretty well set. However, she was expected to see limited time at Juventus last season, only to end up playing 23 games with the first team. The problem in Orlando is that she’ll be behind Marta, Adriana, and Julie Doyle in attacking roles and Haley McCutcheon and Kylie Strom in defense, players who have established themselves in the team.

When Duljan does see the field this season, you can expect to see her in multiple positions. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines likes versatile players and has shown a willingness to try them in different spots. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Duljan play multiple positions as Hines decides where she can help the team the most.