RAFAELLE is reportedly set to leave Arsenal this summer bringing her 18-month spell at the Women’s Super League side to an end.
The Brazil centre-back could be headed to the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League and is thought to be attracting interest from Orlando Pride.
The Athletic reports the club, which competes in the United States’ top tier, have been linked with a move for the player.
Rafaelle, who joined the Gunners last January from Chinese team Changchun Zhuoyue, has established herself as a key figure in the club’s back line.
This term the Bahia-born defender has made 15 WSL appearances for Arsenal who play Aston Villa in their final league game this season.
She has developed an impressive defensive partnership with Leah Williamson with both players helping their side to a 3-1 Conti Cup final defeat of Chelsea in March.
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The Brazilian scored the third goal in a game that saw Arsenal pick up their first trophy win since 2019 and their first piece of silverware under head coach Jonas Eidevall.
And she netted a first-half equaliser during the Gunners’ a first-leg Women’s Champions League semi-final 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg.
She also featured in their narrow 3-2 second-leg semis loss to the German giants played in front of a record crowd of more than 60,000 at the Emirates.
On the international stage Rafaelle has helped Brazil to lift the Copa America Feminina trophy twice in 2018 and 2022.
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Last year the centre-back, who has 77 senior international caps, skippered the team as they won the tournament for a fourth consecutive time.
Rafaelle and her team-mates will face Carla Ward’s Villa side at home this Saturday.
Villa, who are fifth, are on course achieve their highest finish in the WSL since their promotion to the division in 2020.
A win for the Gunners, who are third, will see them qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
