8 Electric Signings Entering the NWSL This Season
A new era of free agency has taken over the NWSL, but that doesn’t mean player transfers have stopped, either. Free agency allows players full control, whereas transfers are made at the behest of the club, and money is received for selling said player. There are a lot of fresh faces who will be entering the NWSL as transfers. Here’s the best of the best–the top signings entering the NWSL–that you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
Kenza Dali – Midfielder, San Diego Wave
Kenza Dali is an experienced French international who has played in both D1 Arkema for PSG and Aston Villa in the WSL. The Wave feature an incredibly young roster and could use some experience in the locker room. Dali has seen it all, making multiple World Cup rosters for France and the Olympics last summer. Dali is a strong midfielder who should be a nice fit for the Wave. Jonas Eidevall is sure to rely on her a lot this season.
Alanna Kennedy – Midfielder, Angel City
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The Matildas star is back in the NWSL after a five-year hiatus. Kennedy left the Orlando Pride in 2020 for a stint in England with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. The Aussie has operated as a hybrid defender/midfielder for most of her career, and that versatility will be huge for Angel City. The LA-based side traded Rocky Rodriguez away, which makes Kennedy a solid replacement for this season at the minimum.
Chiamaka Okwuchukwu – Forward, San Diego Wave
Sports are a copycat game. If a team figures out a winning strategy that works for them, other teams will try and copy it to replicate success. Last year, Temwa Chawinga and Barbra Banda took over and dominated the NWSL. The Wave decided they wouldn’t be left behind with this trend. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu is a 19-year-old Nigerian who just played for her country at the U-20 World Cup. This is the kind of player that the Wave will look to develop into the next Chawinga or Banda, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact she’ll have in year one.
Aisha Solórzano – Forward, Utah Royals
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The Utah Royals had a strong finish to the 2024 season and will look to carry that momentum forward into this season. One of the areas in which they needed help was goalscoring, and they may have found a possible diamond in the rough. Aisha Solórzano is a Guatemalan international who scored 30 goals in 45 Liga MX games, including a hat trick against the Seattle Reign in the Summer Cup. Those types of numbers stand out, and if she scored a hat-trick against NWSL competition already, the signs indicate she could be a reliable goalscorer for the Royals this season.
Ana María Guzmán – Defender, Utah Royals
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The Royals scouting department deserves a raise for finding Ana María Guzmán, who wasn’t playing much for Bayern Munich this season. The 19-year-old Colombian defender has already played for Colombia in the World Cup. Utah has brought her in on a loan deal, meaning Bayern Munich can take her back if she plays well. This move is to clearly get Guzmán more first-team experience; expect the Royals to have her in their Starting XI as soon as they feel she’s ready to go.
Gabi Portilho – Midfielder, Gotham FC
Gabi Portilho didn’t break into the Brazilian national team until she was 27, which speaks to her resilience as a player. Portilho scored twice for Brazil in the Olympics last summer and surely caught the eyes of some NWSL scouts. Goals against France and Spain will catch anyone’s attention. Gotham let a few players go in the offseason, but they’ll be expecting Portilho to be a creator and scorer to make up for some of those departures.
Stella Nyamekye – Forward, Gotham FC
I mentioned the African infusion into the NWSL earlier, and Gotham is another club that hopped on the bandwagon. Stella Nyamekye is Ghana’s U-20 captain, who made her debut for the senior team in 2023. At just 19, Gotham is the perfect environment for her to learn and develop. Nyamekye is an unknown, but Gotham won’t be afraid to start her immediately if she proves she’s ready for the big stage.
Julie Dufour – Forward, Angel City
Angel City has needed another attacking option, a spark other than Claire Emslie and Alyssa Thompson. Christen Press is back, but there’s no guarantee she’ll be available game in and game out. That’s what makes the signing of Julie Dufour so critical. The French international played professionally in D1 Arkema since she was 16. Entering the pro ranks at 16 usually indicates being a prodigy, and Dufour already has six years of playing experience. With a great goal-scoring record in the French league, she’s got a chance to become a fan favorite in LA.
Featured image via @weareangelcity on Instagram
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