Sydney FC Signs Douglas Costa as Marquee Player

Sydney FC has announced a significant signing, acquiring former Juventus and Bayern Munich player Douglas Costa as a marquee player for the next two seasons.

Costa, 33, was recently released from his contract with Brazilian club Fluminense and is set to be unveiled by the Sky Blues soon. This move marks a substantial boost for the A-League Men competition.

The skilled winger from Brazil, who is currently in Rio de Janeiro, finalized his two-year contract over the weekend and will travel to Sydney to begin training. His expected debut is scheduled for September 19 in the AFC Champions League 2 against Eastern of Hong Kong.

Having represented Brazil 31 times, Costa played at the 2018 World Cup, sharing the field with stars such as Neymar and Philippe Coutinho. He has an impressive club career, winning Serie A three times with Juventus and Bundesliga three times with Bayern Munich.

Costa also enjoys a large social media presence, boasting over 6 million Instagram followers, which could aid in increasing the visibility of the A-League Men and attracting support from the local Brazilian community.

One concern surrounding high-profile signings of veteran players is their performance on the field. Costa had a limited impact during his time at Fluminense, where he made 22 appearances, primarily as a substitute, without any goals for the season.

Prior to his tenure in Brazil, Costa played with Los Angeles Galaxy, scoring eight goals in 51 matches, participating in a challenging season where the team finished last in the league.

Sydney FC has a history of marquee players making significant contributions, which includes notable names like Dwight Yorke and Alessandro Del Piero.

The interest in Brazilian talent has grown at Sydney FC, largely attributed to Alexander Baumjohann, who, as the director of player management, played a crucial role in securing Costa’s signature.