Kathellen Sousa Feitoza (born 26 April 1996), commonly known as Kathellen, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as centre back for and captain Saudi Women's Premier League club Al-Nassr and the Brazil women's team.[2] She is a product of the American college soccer system.
.jpg) Kathellen playing for Brazil in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kathellen Sousa Feitoza | ||
| Date of birth | 26 April 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Nassr | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2015 | Monroe College | 15 | (2) |
| 2016 | Louisville Cardinals | 18 | (0) |
| 2017 | UCF Knights | 18 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2020 | Bordeaux | 33 | (3) |
| 2020–2022 | Internazionale | 11 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Real Madrid | 44 | (2) |
| 2024– | Al-Nassr | 2 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018– | Brazil | 30 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editAs a young girl Kathellen loved football but mainly had to play futsal. She found opportunities for field soccer limited in her native Baixada Santista, especially after Santos FC's women's section was closed in 2012.
Kathellen applied for an athletic scholarship to the United States and was selected by Monroe College of the National Junior College Athletic Association. After two successful years with Monroe College she spent her two remaining years of college eligibility with Louisville Cardinals and UCF Knights, respectively, in NCAA Division I.[3]
She subsequently received an offer from FC Girondins de Bordeaux and joined the French Division 1 Féminine club halfway through their 2017–18 season.[4] In May 2018 she signed a two-year extension to her contract.[5]
After a successful 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup with Brazil, and an elite level performance against France, Kathellen was linked to many major European clubs, including newly promoted CD Tacón, due to become Real Madrid for season 2020–21.[6] Instead she remained with Bordeaux for a further season, then joined Italian Serie A club Inter Milan in August 2020.[7]
In 2024 she left Real madrid and joined Al-Nassr on a two years contract, her offical debut was on the 25 of August in the AFC Women's Champions League which she helped her team to keep a clean sheet at.
International career
editBrazil women's national football team head coach Vadão called Kathellen up for the first time in June 2018, for a training camp ahead of the 2018 Tournament of Nations. As the tournament fell outside the FIFA International Match Calendar, some regular national team players were not released by their clubs, causing Vadão to consider other players.[8]
On 26 July 2018, she earned her first cap for the senior Brazil women's national team at the 2018 Tournament of Nations, appearing as a substitute for Daiane Limeira in a 3–1 defeat by Australia.[9][10]
A year later, Kathellen was subsequently called up by Brazil for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She started the preparation camp as the main backup for the experienced pair of centre backs Mônica and Érika. After Érika was forced out of the competition by injury, Kathellen was made a regular starter.[11] Despite being the youngest Brazilian player in the lineup for the Round of 16 game thriller against France, Kathellen delivered a major performance.
Career statistics
editInternational
edit- As of match played 2 August 2023
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kathellen goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 September 2022 | Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa |  South Africa
|
6–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
References
edit- ^ "Start list" (PDF). FIFA. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Kathellen Sousa becomes Real Madrids fourth signing | Real Madrid CF". Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial.
- ^ Júnior, Muniz (14 July 2018). "BR no Mundo: Kathellen Sousa" (in Portuguese). Blog De Bate e Pronto. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Kathellen Sousa : " C'est une chance unique d'intégrer les Girondins ! "" (in French). FC Girondins de Bordeaux. 31 March 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Kathellen Sousa prolonge à Bordeaux" (in French). FC Girondins de Bordeaux. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Gil, Aimara G. (22 July 2019). "El Real Madrid negocia con el Girondins por Kathellen Sousa" (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Kathellen Sousa signs for Inter Women". Inter Milan. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Botta, Emilio (10 June 2018). "Zagueira "perdida" fora do Brasil chama atenção e vira joia na seleção feminina" (in Portuguese). Rede Globo. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Estreante do grupo, Kathellen vibra com convocação" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Football Confederation. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Leme de Arruda, Marcelo (10 November 2018). "Seleção Brasileira Feminina (Brazilian National Women's Team) 2018" (in Portuguese). Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Favier, Patrick (22 June 2019). "Avant France – Brésil : Kathellen Sousa en première ligne face aux Bleues" (in French). Sud Ouest. Retrieved 10 August 2019.