The Chicago Red Stars signed Brazilian defensive midfielder Julia Bianchi to a two-year contract on Wednesday.

Bianchi, 25, spent the past two seasons in her home country with Palmeiras, appearing in 77 matches.

She helped the club win three championships (Paulista Cup, Libertadores and Paulista Championship) in that span.

"Julia is a talented player. She can play a number of different positions and be effective in each one," said Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli. "She's proven to be a top player in Brazil, and we expect the same kind of success in the NWSL. She's still a young player so we're very excited about her future in Chicago."

Internationally, Bianchi was with Brazil's national team for the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2021 SheBelieves Cup.

--Field Level Media