Manchester City Women Announce Signing Of USA Defender

Manchester City Women have strengthened their defence after signing of USA star and World Cup winner Abby Dahlkemper.

The defender, who played in all USA’s successful World Cup campaign in 2019, joins fellow compatriots Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle in the City ranks, and has signed a two and a half year contract with the blues.

After finalising her move to England, Dahlkemper expressed her delight at joining the club. “I am so excited to join Manchester City. It’s a world class club full of incredible players and I can’t wait to get started.

“With all the talent in the FA WSL, I know that each game will present a new challenge and the opportunity to grow both as a player and as a person in England is going to be amazing, alongside having the chance to play Champions League football too.

“Sam and Rose have been saying nothing but brilliant things about the Club and hearing them speak so highly about the facilities, the staff and the players as well as their experience of a new technical and tactical challenge is something that was really appealing to me. I just can’t wait to get over and help the team in whatever way I can and be successful on the field.”

Manager Gareth Taylor was obviously thrilled to have a defender of Dahlkemper’s quality in the City backline. “We’re delighted to welcome Abby to Manchester City, another exciting addition to our squad. She is a very talented defender who has been successful both domestically and internationally - with her desire and hunger for victory, we know she’ll fit into our team ethos perfectly.

“We’re really looking forward to working with her over the coming seasons.”

Dahlkemper arrives from North Carolina Courage, where she made 78 appearances in three years for the side, scoring two goals. The defender started in all seven of the USA national team’s World Cup campaign, and missed just eight minutes action throughout the whole tournament, when she as withdrawn in the match against Chile, which the USA won 3-0. She was part of the solid American defence that only conceded three goals throughout the entire tournament.

The blues have only conceded 9 goals in the WSL this season, and the signing of Dalhkemper will hopefully keep that tally low.

Welcome to Manchester, Abby.