NWSL extension side Angel City FC announced it had signed Julie Ertz and Sarah Gorden from the Chicago Red Stars on Thursday ahead of the trade deadline.
The announcement also revealed that Angel City will receive an international slot from Chicago in 2022 and 2023, while the Red Stars will have the entire lineup defending from ACFC in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft on May 16. twelfth.
Ertz, 29, has spent his entire NWSL career at the Red Stars. The midfielder joined the club in 2014 and has six goals and eight assists in 95 appearances, but has missed a lot of action in 2021 due to injury and her USWNT commitments. that.
NWSL Defender of the Year nominee, Gordon, has been at the Red Stars since 2016 and started every game of the 2021 season. Chicago earned the NWSL title in November. but lost to Washington Spirit in extra time.
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“Julie Ertz and Sarah Gorden are two very important players to the defensive foundation we are building in Angel City’s squad,” ACFC Sports Director Eni Aluko said. “We know successful teams need to have competitive defences and we’re delighted with the addition of two defenders who play with the NWSL’s years of experience.”
Head coach Freya Coombe added: “The level of experience and leadership that both Julie Ertz and Sarah Gorden bring to a team is astounding. Julie is a leader and competitor known as a team player. midfield kicker Sarah is absolutely one of the best defenders in the league She’s been outstanding all season and stands out in the NWSL Championship They are the caliber of player we are. I want to be on the field playing for Angel City.”
Both players competed in the USWNT international and were two-time World Cup winners Christen Press, who became the club’s first signing in August 2021.
NWSL’s Los Angeles-based expansion brand has a founding team that includes actress Natalie Portman, tennis great Serena Williams and more than a dozen former US women’s national players. It will broadcast the first NWSL season in 2022.
