KC Current sign Brazilian defender Lauren

The Kansas City Current signed Brazilian defender Lauren Eduarda Leal Costa through the 2024 season, with an option for 2025. Kansas City also traded $100,000 and a 2024 international slot to the North Carolina Courage in exchange for them relinquishing their exclusive (discovery) rights for the player.

Lauren is currently at the Women’s World Cup with her now KC Current teammate, Debinha. Both Lauren and Debinha started in the 4-0 win over Panama with Lauren going the full ninety minutes.

Credit Thais Magalhães CBF

“Having the chance to bring someone of Lauren’s class to Kansas City is an easy decision for us,” said Kansas City Current general manager Camille Ashton via press release. “She’s a promising young center back with international experience and we believe she has the ability to elevate our relentless grit on the pitch. To have not one but two Brazilian national team players here in Kansas City will make this an exciting brand of soccer to watch every match night.”

The twenty-year-old center back comes from Madrid CFF (Madrid Club de Fútbol Femenino) where she made forty appearances with a pair of goals. Lauren is from São Paulo where she joined the São Paulo Futebol Clube youth system before graduating to play for their senior team. She made twenty-seven appearances with them before moving to Madrid CFF in early 2022.

A totally new backline? 

Time may be running out for the Current to make the playoffs this year but they could be looking at an almost new backline to help them down the stretch and into next season. The Current added Danish center back Stine Ballisager Pedersen who is also with her team at the World Cup and should join the team after they are eliminated. The Current added Swedish outside back Hanna Glas in the offseason and she is close to returning to play.  Glas normally plays for Sweden but opted out of the World Cup roster because she was not quite ready. Glas is known for her ability to get forward and assist in the attack.

Current interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom has publically favored a four-player backline, allowing more midfielders and other attackers to be on the field. The Current could soon have three national team quality defenders patrolling the back line and building forward. Glas on the right, Ballisager and Lauren in the middle,  it is a good start to a strong defense. Current starting defenders Elizabeth Ball and Gabrielle Robinson in the center will have a battle for time going forward.

With defense a weakness and possible oversight coming into the season, it looks like it has been seriously addressed. The question is will it be in time to help the Current make another postseason appearance?

Debinha introduces her new Current teammate 

Who other than @Debinha7 to introduce our newest member, @laurenleal_ 🗣🇧🇷#KCBABY pic.twitter.com/lVokgAi5n7

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) July 24, 2023