ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2019) – Orlando City SC has signed defender Ruan (WHO-ahn) to a one year contract ahead of the 2019 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. The 23-year-old right back comes to the United States from Brazil’s Série B.
“We are very excited to welcome Ruan to Orlando City. He is a dependable right back that has excellent speed and is dangerous in his transition on the offensive side of the ball,” said Orlando City SC EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi. “As a Club we continue to provide depth on our roster and build competition within the group as we head into our 2019 preseason.”
The Rio de Janeiro native made 49 career appearances overseas in the past two seasons. In 2018, Ruan joined Sport Club Internacional of Brazil’s top flight of soccer Série A. Ruan competed in Copa do Brasil and Campeonato Gaúcho competitions, including six appearances in Campeonato Gaúcho matches while on loan.
Ruan then joined Associação Atlética Ponte Preta in Brazil’s Serie B on loan and was part of a backline that contributed to nine clean sheets. Ruan closed out the 2018 campaign starting seven consecutive games of his 17 appearances and totaling 360 straight minutes without conceding a goal.
In 2017, Ruan appeared in 25 matches for Boa Esporte Clube (MG) in Serie B, where he was crucial on the backline. He assisted in nine shutouts for Boa and racked up 1,964 minutes played.
Ruan joined Clube Atlético da Barra da Tijuca in May 2017, his club of origin, before going on loan with both Associação Atlética Ponte Preta and Boa Esporte Clube in 2017 and 2018.
