NAPLES, Fla. - FC Naples today announced the signing of a pair of defenders in former USL League One champion Gustavo Fernandes and Puerto Rico international Rodolfo Sulia, pending league and federation approval.

A 27-year-old native of West Babylon, N.Y., Fernandes is set for his sixth season in League One and fourth unique team. He made 22 appearances across all competitions for Chattanooga Red Wolves SC a season ago, providing a pair of assists.

Fernandes, previously played for North Carolina FC and recorded 4,901 minutes across two seasons. In 2023, he played 33 matches with 31 starts. Fernandes won 26 tackles with a 76.5% tackle rate along with 82 clearances, 19 blocks and 17 interceptions.

Fernandes was a key factor in helping North Carolina FC lift the USL League One Final trophy at the end of the 2023 season after beating the Charlotte Independence on penalties. In 2022, Fernandes started in 24 of 26 games for NCFC and had 1,176 successful passes with an accuracy of 86.8%. 

Fernandes joined Forward Madison FC for his debut professional season in 2020 and continued with the club for two seasons. During his time in Madison, he played 1,704 minutes total during the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined. Fernandes made 26 total appearances, 19 of which were starts. In 2020, he had a 91.7% winning tackle rate and 76.2% rate in 2021. Prior to his time at Madison, Fernandes played for the Ocean City Nor’easters of USL League Two in 2019 and the Tampa Bay Rowdies' U-23 squad.

"Gustavo has a proven track record of success in USL League One," said Naples Head Coach Matt Poland. "He offers us great passing from the back and is really able to open the game up with his decision-making with the ball."

Rodolfo Sulia, a 23-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, developed with Mirabelli SA in Puerto Rico and CA Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina before joining second-division Bolivian side Satélite Norte FC in 2020. In 2021, Sulia returned to Puerto Rico with Metropolitan FA, notably making three appearances with the side in the 2021 Caribbean Club Championship.

Sulia joined NISA side Chicago House AC in 2021, making 18 appearances and scoring one goal for the former professional side; current Naples coach Matt Poland was a member of the House's technical staff during Sulia's time there.

The defender spent the next three seasons with three different teams, representing Puerto Rico Sol FC in 2022, USL League Two side Fort Wayne FC in 2023 and Academia Quintana FC in 2024.

Sulia is a current Puerto Rico international and has made 20 appearances and scored two goals for El Huracán Azul since his senior national team debut in September 2019.

"Rodolfo is a player with high potential," Poland said. "He is strong in his duels and is a presence on the backline. He is a player who wants to compete every day in training and in games."