Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Kerolin Nicoli, with the 25-year-old Brazilian forward penning a three-and-a-half-year deal that will keep her at the Joie Stadium until 2028.
The club’s third signing of the January transfer window, after Rebecca Knaak and Aemu Oyama, has made 45 appearances for the Brazilian senior national team and makes the move to the Barclays Women’s Super League after a successful stint in the NWSL.
During her time with North Carolina Courage, Kerolin was named as the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2023 as she helped the team lift the Challenge Cup.
She’ll wear the number 14 shirt for the Cityzens, adding to a formidable option of attacking options at Gareth Taylor’s disposal. Her arrival is expected to trigger Chloe Kelly’s loan departure to local rivals, Manchester United.
Kerolin told Manchester City: “I’m so excited to be here. I think there were a lot of reasons why I chose City and one of those was to play in the Champions League.”
“I think the players [in the WSL] are really technical and the team is compact. I want to be better, to learn different things and to come here to be challenged,” she explained.
“I know I need to keep working hard to be great here. There’ll be some differences between here and where I’ve played before, but I’m really excited.”
Therese Sjögran, Manchester City’s Director of Women’s Football, noted: “Kerolin comes to Manchester City with a wealth of experience under her belt at just 25 – as a fully-fledged international, an Olympian and MVP – with a real desire and hunger to take her game to the next level.”
“We have a shared ambition to be the best, not only in England but also in Europe, and we are delighted to have been able to bring her to Manchester,” Sjögran concluded.
Kerolin could make her debut tonight against Manchester United in the quarterfinals of the Subway Women’s League Cup.