World Cup defender Abby Dahlkemper is preparing to become the latest U.S. star to leave the National Women’s Soccer League for the English circuit, multiple people close to the situation said Monday.
Dahlkemper is in U.S. national team training camp in Orlando. A team spokesman said she was not available to comment. Neither the Courage nor her agent wanted to comment. A Manchester City spokeswoman did not return a message.
The Athletic and Equalizer Soccer also reported she was signing with Manchester City.
Dahlkemper, 27, has made 62 appearances for the national team and is considered one of the best center backs in the world. She started at the 2019 World Cup in France.
Aside from the Manchester City trio, the other Americans leaping from the NWSL to the FA Women’s Super League in the past six months were Tobin Heath and Christen Press (Manchester United) as well as Alex Morgan (Tottenham Hotspur). Morgan has since returned to the NWSL.
Dahlkemper’s imminent departure comes as attacker Catarina Macario, a Stanford star and U.S. national team prospect, signed a 2½-year contract Tuesday with European champion Olympique Lyonnais.
Asked about U.S. stars choosing leagues overseas, in part for bigger salaries, NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird said on Tuesday, “As our league continues to grow, we are going to continue to invest in our players, to attract and retain the best talent. That takes resources. … We’re engaged in a serious effort [with team owners] to do a long-term strategic plan that will absolutely help us on the road to define what we need to do to continue to be competitive in the worldwide marketplace.”
Meanwhile, U.S. national team prospect Brianna Pinto will leave the University of North Carolina after the spring season to play in the NWSL. She is expected to be one of the top picks in the draft.
Washington State freshman Trinity Rodman, a U.S. under-20 standout and the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, registered for the NWSL draft Monday. She is also weighing options overseas.
Baird announced Sacramento will enter the league in 2022, increasing the number of teams to 12. Racing Louisville will begin play this year and Angel City (Los Angeles) will start in 2022.
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