Sarasota, Fl. — Sarasota Paradise is proud to announce the signing of defender Anderson Rosa, a composed and gifted defender who brings MLS experience, leadership, and high-level development to the club as it prepares for its inaugural USL League One season in 2026.
Rosa arrives in Sarasota following a decorated collegiate career at the University of Central Florida and time within the Colorado Rapids organization. A skillful defender with a strong competitive mentality, Rosa has consistently performed in winning environments and adds valuable experience to Sarasota Paradise’s first professional roster.
Originally from Brazil, Rosa moved to the United States to attend Montverde Academy, a pivotal moment in both his life and career. He was named Most Improved Player during his sophomore year, an early milestone that helped shape his growth and confidence as a player.
Rosa went on to commit to the University of Central Florida, where he played five seasons due to the COVID eligibility extension. His freshman year was immediately successful, as UCF captured both the American Athletic Conference regular season championship and the AAC Tournament title. Individually, Rosa earned All Conference recognition and was named to the AAC All Rookie Team during his first collegiate season.
From his sophomore year onward, Rosa served as a team captain and became a consistent presence along UCF’s back line. Over the course of his collegiate career, he earned First Team All Conference honors twice in the AAC and once in the Sun Belt Conference, along with Second Team All Conference recognition in both leagues. Across his time at UCF, Rosa recorded eight goals and sixteen assists from a defensive position, and played the most games in his school’s history (76).
Rosa was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft but elected to return to UCF for an additional season to complete his degree and close out the chapter he had started with the program. In 2025, he joined the Rapids organization, featuring in two MLS games and competing extensively with Rapids 2 in MLS NEXT Pro. He made 29 appearances for Rapids 2, recording one goal and two assists, while helping the club win the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference title and finish as runners-up in the MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
Now in Sarasota, Rosa is motivated by the opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up. The chance to be part of Sarasota Paradise’s first professional roster and contribute to the club’s identity stood out immediately as the next step in his career.
“It means a lot to be part of Sarasota Paradise’s first professional roster,” Rosa said. “I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I’m ready to help the club reach our goals and make history together. This is the right move for me because it’s a club with ambition to win, and I want to be part of that. I’m a defender who likes to have the ball, bring energy, and compete every day. My goal this season is to help the team play at the highest level possible and put ourselves in a position to win trophies.”
Head Coach and Technical Director Mika Elovaara welcomed Rosa to the club.
“I am thrilled to have Anderson Rosa join us for our inaugural professional season. I have followed his career for many years and have always rated his potential very high. He comes from a great college program, where [UCF Head] Coach Calabrese recruits young men of great character and high performance ability. Anderson is a leader on and off the field and he has high ambition for his career. With a whole season of experience in one of the best player development environments in the MLS, we expect him to hit the ground running in Paradise. Our fans will soon learn to love the left side of our lineup!”
Rosa joins a growing roster of experienced professionals and emerging talent as Sarasota Paradise enters its first professional season in 2026.
Catch Rosa and the Paradise squad in action this season — contact our ticketing team at 941-207-5873 to secure your tickets!
