Brazilian winger Douglas Costa, who previously played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, has signed a two-year contract with Sydney FC in Australia's A-League, as announced by the club on Monday.
The 33-year-old Costa, who has enjoyed a successful career with three Italian Serie A titles at Juventus, joins Sydney FC as a significant acquisition ahead of the Australian season starting in October.
"I have been part of some incredible teams throughout my career, winning many titles, and I have come to Sydney FC to win more," Costa said in a statement. "Football is in my blood, and I arrive in Australia to raise the game in this country, entertain the passionate sporting public, and bring silverware to Sydney FC."
Costa joins the Australian side after being released by Brazilian club Fluminense. Throughout his career, he has won 24 trophies, including the 2020 Club World Cup with Bayern Munich. He began his European career with Shakhtar Donetsk, where he won five consecutive Ukrainian league titles before moving to Bayern Munich in 2015, where he contributed to three Bundesliga championships. Costa then signed with Juventus in 2017, initially on loan, and played for the club until 2022.
Internationally, Costa has made 31 appearances for Brazil and was part of the national team squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow expressed excitement over the signing, stating, "We are thrilled to bring Brazilian World Cup star Douglas Costa to Sydney FC and the A-League. He is one of the most high-profile footballers to ever play on these shores. The eyes of the football world will be on Sydney FC and the A-League this season."
Costa is also a prominent figure on social media, with six million followers on Instagram. Last season, Sydney FC finished fourth in the 12-team A-League, behind champions Central Coast Mariners.
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