A-League news 2024: How Costa’s OnlyFans deal will grow ‘intimate connection’ with fans

Millions of fans around the world will get a sneak peek into life as an A-Leagues player with superstar Douglas Costa penning a deal with social media platform OnlyFans to promote his time at Sydney FC.

Sydney FC’s marquee signing Douglas Costa has a huge global fan base and a new partnership with a growing social media platform means they will all be granted a behind the scenes tour of the football stars’ time Down Under.

Costa, who has played at some of the world’s biggest football clubs including Bayern Munich, Juventus and LA Galaxy, has 6.1 million followers on his Instagram account and another 2.4 million on TikTok.

The 33-year-old Brazilian revealed this week he was teaming up with subscription only social media platform OnlyFans.

While originally marketed as an adult entertainment network the brand is making moves towards more ‘G’ rated content producers in a bid to keep up with their rivals.

Costa isn’t the first athlete to pen a deal with the brand – Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham and Opals star Liz Cambage also have OnlyFans accounts.

Sydney FC's new Brazilian and former Juventus and Bayern Munich world football superstar Douglas Costa has arrived in Sydney. Picture: Jaime Castaneda

Other elite athletes using the platform including mountain biker Lewis Buchanan, Australian GT World Challenge winner Renee Gracie, jetski champion Anna Glennon, surfer Billy Kemper and MMA star Paige VanZant.

As a subscription based platform it provides the athletes with another stream of income.

When Costa made his debut as an 18-year-old with Brazilian club Gremio social media was non-existent.

He certainly didn’t grow up sharing his life on social media.

But the footballer said it was something he had learned to embrace.

“It started with Facebook and as I moved from team to team I got the chance to try other social medias,” Costa said via a Portuguese translator.

THE INS AND OUTS OF EVERY A-LEAGUES CLUB

Douglas Costa is a massive signing for Sydney. Picture: AFP

“I would always post things related to work and family as well, it was something that I had to grow with.

“From moving from one country to another you end up with fans all over the world – you can use social media to show your work to all these people – not just rely on the TV which is pretty much what I had when I started.”

Costa said he planned to use OnlyFans to show his day-to-day life with Sydney FC, travels and what he does an athlete. This platform allows him to share exclusive content.

“I wanted to post everything as exclusive content which is pretty much why I joined,” Costa said.

“I envision having a more intimate relationship with my fans.”

The superstar signing has been in Australia for almost a week. Has completed five training sessions with his new club and said he was slowly adjusting to the new timezone.

“I’m looking forward to getting use to everybody and playing for Sydney and getting to know the other teams and players,” Costa said.

Douglas Costa played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. Picture: AFP

And despite having played in some the biggest football leagues in the world alongside superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Costa said he still got “anxious” ahead of his first game with a new club.

“I don’t get nervous anymore but a little anxious,” Costa said.

“It’s like when you get a cold in your tummy, it is pretty normal when you are playing for any team, especially a new team in a new country with new people.”

Costa is likely to get his first game in Sydney FC colours when the club play the first match of their Asian Football Champions League 2 campaign against Eastern on September 19.

Originally published as A-League news 2024: How Costa’s OnlyFans deal will grow ‘intimate connection’ with fans