Šiauliai'sGintra have made another signing, adding Brazilian midfielder Julia Francisco De Souza Dias until the end of the 2026 season. The 24-year-old will wear the yellow and black number-13 shirt.
She stands out for her creativity, vision and ability both to score and assist teammates. Born in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, she began playing at six. Her first steps were alongside boys, as opportunities for girls' football in her country were limited at the time.
'At home I initially played with boys, which was normal then. I later developed at S.C. Internacional's academy before moving to the United States, where I played college football for four years and grew as a player. Moving to the US also helped me develop personally: I experienced another culture and improved my English,' the newcomer said.
She says the team's clear objectives and professional structure convinced her to move to Lithuania.
'What attracted me most was the team's winning mentality and the opportunity to grow as a player and person. I cannot wait to make my debut, meet the supporters and contribute to victories. I knew there were other Brazilians here, which made the decision easier because I could speak to Lidi and Sabrina. Speaking with the Club Director, I understood the expectations: another Brazilian, Laura Spenazzatto, was a team leader last season, and my task is to replace her,' J. Francisco De Souza Dias said.
She is happiest in midfield, where she can actively shape play and exploit advantages in tight spaces. J. Dias identifies vision and ball control as her strongest qualities.
Club Director Mantas Radavičius says the newcomer will bring attacking creativity and hopes she can fulfil her potential.
'Julia is a very creative midfielder with excellent vision and the ability to control the ball in difficult situations. We believe her style will help us develop a more varied, dynamic attack and give us more options to adapt to different situations,' M. Radavičius said.
Gintra's new signing could make her debut this Sunday in the team's first official match of the season, against RFS of Riga in the Baltic League. The game takes place in Panevėžys's indoor arena, with coverage from 19:30 on the futbolas.tv platform.
