EDINBURG, Texas (Tues., Jan. 7, 2020) – Rio Grande Valley FC signed midfielder Taiberson Ruan Menezes and forward Kyle Edwards, the club announced today.

“We are very pleased to add these two exciting attacking players. Taiberson is explosive and dynamic in the final third – he has the ability to play a variety of attacking roles. We have been tracking him for sometime and feel his formation and experience at Athletico Paranense and Internacional will be a huge benefit to our young team,” RGV FC General Manager Nick Kowba said.

“Kyle is a goal scorer who possesses pace, power and can finish with either foot. Through his time spent with our USL League Two team as well as training with RGV FC he showed us firsthand his ability to convert chances. We look forward to continuing his development and working with him to get results at the next level.”

Taiberson is a product of the Atlético Paranaense Academy in Brazil and made his professional debut as an 18-year-old coming off the bench in a 1-0 victory over Ipatinga on July 11, 2012. The winger began his youth career with Internacional from 2008-2010 and spent a year with Juventude prior to graduating from the Paranaense program in 2012.

The winger joined Internacional in 2014 and finished with one goal and an assist in 18 Campeonato Brasilerio Série A appearances. Taiberson claimed the Campeonato Gaúcho with Internacional in 2015 as the Porto Alegre side edged past their fierce rivals, Gremio, in the final. The 26-year-old would spend the next three seasons on loan with Ponte Preta, Náutico, Juventude and Centro Sportivo Alagoano. The winger finished three goals and two assists in 24 appearances in the Campeonato Brasilerio Série B.

Taiberson joined S.E.R. Caxias do Sul on April 22, 2019 from Veranopolis in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.

Edwards finished his collegiate career at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley ranked second in career goals with 21 and career points with 49. The forward featured in 34 games for the Vaqueros from 2018-2019 and was named to the All-WAC First Team in back-to-back seasons. Following his breakout junior year with UTRGV, the forward was named WAC Preseason Player of the Year and named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Edwards joined Brazos Valley Cavalry FC, the USL League Two affiliate of the Houston Dynamo, last summer where he scored 15 goals and tallied three assists in 13 appearances. Via his 15 goals, Edwards was co-winner of the 2019 League Two Golden Boot. The forward’s offensive contribution played a key role in securing back-to-back USL League Two Mid-South Division titles for the Cavalry who also reached the conference final in 2019.

The 22-year-old brings international experience to RGV FC with 15 senior caps for the Saint Vincent and Grenadines National Team. Edwards made his debut in a 4-0 victory over Anguilla on Sept. 5, 2014 in the Caribbean Cup Qualification tournament. The forward finished with the game-winning assist in his last outing with Saint Vincent and Grenadines, a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Aug. 11, 2019.

With the addition of Taiberson and Edwards, RGV FC now have nine players on the active roster.

PLAYER PROFILE

FULL NAME: Taiberson Ruan Menezes Nunes

DATE OF BIRTH: Nov. 18, 1993 (26 years old)

HEIGHT: 5’7”

WEIGHT: 160

BIRTHPLACE: Alegrete, Brazil

HOMETOWN: Alegrete, Brazil

PREVIOUS CLUB: Centro Deportivo Alagoano (AL)

FIFA NATIONALITY: Brazil

PLAYER PROFILE

FULL NAME: Kyle Edwards

DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 15, 1997 (22 years old)

HEIGHT: 6’1”

WEIGHT: 185

BIRTHPLACE: Barrouallie, St. Vincent (St Vincent and the Grenadines)

HOMETOWN: Barrouallie, St. Vincent

PREVIOUS CLUB: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

FIFA NATIONALITY: St. Vincent and the Grenadines

TRANSACTION: Rio Grande Valley FC sign midfielder Taiberson and forward Kyle Edwards.

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