The Houston Dash has agreed to terms with Club UAI Urquiza and Argentina national team forward Paulina Gramaglia, sources told The Striker Texas. The 18-year-old will join on loan for the 2022 NWSL season with an exclusive option to buy at the end of the year. The forward has the opportunity to become the youngest player ever to feature for the Dash.
The loan will begin on Jan. 1, 2022, and will go through Dec. 31, 2022, with an option to sign Gramaglia at the end of the loan.The move was first reported by the Argentina media outlet El Femenino.
🚨Paulina Gramaglia es refuerzo de Houston Dash🇺🇲.
— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) December 20, 2021
*️⃣La UAI la cede sin cargo por un año y con opción de compra. De ejecutarse, será un hecho histórico para el fútbol femenino 🇦🇷 ya que se adquirirá un pase por primera vez. #TratoHecho.
*️⃣Info con @FemeninoAFA pic.twitter.com/NzYMmu423e
Gramaglia, a native of Córdoba, Argentina, has been playing for league club Urquiza in the greater Buenos Aires area for the past year, after leaving hometown club Talleras at the age of 17. UAI snatched many plaudits in the soccer world when it finished third in the 2015 edition South America's premier continental tournament Copa Libertadores Femenina. After that achievement, Urquiza went on to win the Primera División A back-to-back in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
The club is also renowned for being a hot bed for young talent in Argentina women's soccer. Gramaglia's high profile countrywoman Mariana Larroquette, who plays for the Kansas City Current, had an incredibly successful spell for Urquiza between 2017-2020. Houston fans may remember Larroquette after the forward notched two assists in three matches against the Dash during the 2021 NWSL season.
After many years starting on the U20 and U17 Argentina national teams, Gramaglia recently made her debut as a senior national player against Ecuador in November 2021. The match finished 0-0, with the young forward being introduced in the 75th minute for midfielder Lorena Benitez. Gramaglia has scored nine goals for Urquiza during the current 2021-22 Primera División A season. She recently notched an impressive assist in a 2-2 draw with San Lorenzo.
⚽️ ¡GOL DE UAI URQUIZA! ⚽️
— DEPORTV (@canaldeportv) November 21, 2021
👉 Tras un error en la defensa de San Lorenzo, @PauliGramaglia1 se queda con la pelota, pega en el palo y Micaela Sandoval agarra el rebote para abrir el marcador
⌚️ 7' | @CASLAFFemenino 0 - 1 @clubuaiurquiza @afa | #FUTBOLenDEPORTV | @YPFoficial pic.twitter.com/F31Dx2yRbW
The transfer shows tremendous ambition for the Texas team. South America is a relatively untapped region for the NWSL and the European leagues. At this time, the Dash appears to be on forefront on investing in scouting in the continent. Gramaglia's signing is an ardent display of a more innovative and international approach to roster building that is over due in U.S. women's soccer and around the world.
Gramaglia will become the fourth Houston signing of the offseason. Julia Ashley and Kelcie Hedge were acquired last week via trades with Racing Louisville and OL Reign respectively, with the addition of South Carolina Gamecock forward Ryan Gareis being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NWSL Draft. The new arrivals will be tasked with replacing Jasmyne Spencer and Kristie Mewis, who were poached in the NWSL expansion draft. Houston are also set to be without Rachel Daly for a significant portion of the 2022 season due to the UEFA European Championships.
At 11:00am on Monday, the Dash confirmed the transfer and made Gramaglia's move to Houston official.
Bienvenida @PauliGramaglia1 🤘#HoldItDown
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) December 20, 2021