Santos extend deal with experienced women's midfielder for another season | OneFootball

Santos has confirmed the stay of one of its main leaders on the field. Midfielder Rafa Andrade, 28, one of the captains of the Sereias da Vila throughout 2025, has agreed to a contract renewal and will remain with the club until December 31, 2026.

Signed at the start of the season, the number 88 quickly became a key player in the campaign that brought Santos back to the top tier of women’s football and also secured the title of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A2. Over the year, Rafa played in 30 out of the team’s 32 matches, missing only two games. In addition to her consistency, she also stood out for her leadership: she started as captain in 10 matches and scored five goals, making her the team’s third top scorer alongside Analuyza.

The renewal crowns an important year for the player, who joined the club after three seasons with Cruzeiro. Before that, she played for Portuguesa, Foz Cataratas, Avaí Kindermann, Napoli-SC, 3B da Amazônia, Tiradentes-CE, Botafogo-PB, and Ferroviária, where she gained national recognition, as well as Palmeiras. Her solid career and experience were fundamental for Santos in what she herself described as an “atypical” year.

“I’m very happy to renew my contract with Santos. It was an atypical season for the Sereias, returning to the top flight, but we managed to achieve the main goal of the year. Now, for 2026, we’re aiming for new achievements and hope to bring a lot of joy to our fans,” said the midfielder.

For the next season, the Sereias da Vila will have a packed schedule, with competitions in the Brasileirão Feminino, Copa do Brasil, and Paulistão. After a 2025 marked by ups and downs, with promotion and the Série A2 title, but also early eliminations in the state championship and Copa do Brasil and a runner-up finish in the Copa Paulista, Santos is aiming for stability in the first division and dreams of fighting for trophies again. Rafa Andrade’s stay is seen as an important step in this process.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.