Tropics Sign Free Agent Ricardo Carvalho

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Tropics have opened the Major Arena Soccer League free agency period with a bang, signing Ricardo Carvalho, who was ninth in the league last season in both goals and total points. Per team and league policies, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This will be his fifth season in the MASL, with the last three spent with the Harrisburg Heat. Last season, he had a career high 30 goals and 19 assists in 23 games. For his career with the Heat, in 63 games he had 67 goals and 43 assists for 110 points.

The Brazilian native started his professional arena career with the Chicago Mustangs in the 2015-16 season, earning All MASL Rookie first-team honors after scoring 18 goals and adding seven assists.

“Our ownership group has given us the green light to try to bring in new talent this off season, so we are thrilled to bring in someone of Ricardo's talents,” Coach Clay Roberts said. “He is a dynamic presence, a finisher with vision who can also set up his linemates, and a young veteran just entering his prime as a player.”

Roberts added that this would be the beginning, not the end, of a roster overhaul after an injury plagued 2018-19 season in which the Tropics managed just a 6-18 mark.

“Our fans and community partners have demonstrated their support of the Tropics, and we are pledging to reward that support by aggressively upgrading our roster,” Roberts added. “Ricardo is just the beginning of our makeover, not the end.”

Earlier this week, the MASL announced the time-table for the annual Free Agency Period. Across the league, there are over 250 players eligible for free agency during this period.

Beginning May 15 at 9 a.m. EDT through May 30 at 6 p.m. EDT will be considered a “Live Period” for contract negotiations. Players with contracts expiring prior to November 1, 2019 will be able to sign with any team ONLY during this period. Players with expired contracts are free to sign at any time.

If a player is already under contract or signs a contract extension (pending league approval) through the 2019-2020 season, they will not be eligible during the Live Period.

The Tropics will start their fourth season in the MASL late this fall at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.