Official: Roma Signs Joyce Borini

Roma have officially wrapped up their summer transfer campaign on the women’s side of the club, announcing the signing of 33-year old Brazil international Joyce Borini from La Liga side Madrid CFF. It’s still unclear where Roma plans to field utility player Borini in Alessandro Spugna’s side, but she brings a wealth of experience and knows what it’s like to be part of a cup-winning side at the highest level.

News of Roma’s interest in Borini broke out of left field earlier this summer when we were more focused on whether the Giallorosse would finally announce the women’s headline signing of the summer in fellow Brazil international Thaisa. While Thaisa was running up against all sorts of work permit troubles, Borini flew under the radar and completely her quarantine period without hype, speculation, or fanfare.

Today marked the end of Borini’s quarantine period, allowing her to take the grounds of Trigoria and share her thoughts on how she will settle into life in the Eternal City:

Just from the way Borini puts herself across (sorry for the lack of English subtitles—and funnily enough she was speaking Spanish rather than Portuguese), you can tell she’s an experienced player who knows what it takes to put herself out there and try to strike up relationships within a club. Borini has winning experience with former club Sporting Huelva, as she was part of their team that beat Valencia to lift the Spanish Cup trophy in 2015.

That success saw Borini actually accept a transfer to Valencia the following season, before journeying around Spain on further moves to Granadilla and finally Madrid C.F.F. last season. From Brazil fans who follow Borini online, apparently, Borini spent last season playing out wide in Madrid as a full-back. That brings us to our one and only question on this transfer: What role was Borini signed to play in Rome?

Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images

In the club’s statement on the move, they (and Head of Women’s Football Betty Bavagnoli) singled out Borini’s traits as a midfielder. Yet Borini spent her introductory interview claiming the Brazilian former players she rates at Roma are full-backs Cafu and Emerson Palmieri, for their athleticism and wing-play.

It seems like Borini could be enthused by giving a hand to this Roma team all over the pitch and, with new full-back signing Lucia Di Gugliemo currently out recovering from a dislocated elbow in pre-season, Borini’s odds of finding game time out wide look higher at the beginning of league campaign. Time will tell.

For now, we’re just ready for the season to kick-off! Welcome, Joyce.