Sam Kerr joins Gotham FC on deal through 2030
The Australia striker returns to the NWSL after leaving Chelsea, where she won five Women’s Super League titles.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Sam Kerr has signed with Gotham FC, returning one of women’s football’s leading forwards to the National Women’s Soccer League after her departure from Chelsea. Gotham said the Australia striker’s contract runs through the 2030 season, a move that brings her back to a club she played for from 2015 to 2017.
Reuters reported that Kerr joined Gotham as a free agent after a Chelsea spell that included five Women’s Super League titles. Gotham, identified by Reuters as the reigning NWSL champion, announced the signing on Monday.
Kerr leaves Chelsea with 116 goals in all competitions, according to Reuters. She was also runner-up for the 2023 Ballon d’Or and remains the NWSL’s all-time leader in regular-season goals despite spending more than six years away from the league.
A return to familiar ground
Kerr previously played for Sky Blue FC, the club now known as Gotham FC, from 2015 to 2017. Gotham said her earlier stint in the New York-area club formed part of her development before her moves to Chicago, Perth Glory and Chelsea.
In a club statement, Kerr said Gotham had been an important part of her career and that returning with the team in its current position was special. She said the club’s ambition was clear and that she wanted to help Gotham compete for trophies and add to its history.
Gotham president of football operations Yael Averbuch West said in the announcement that Kerr is among the defining players of her generation and has produced at the top level of the sport. Averbuch West called the signing a major moment for the club.
NWSL record remains intact
Reuters reported that Kerr has played 119 regular-season NWSL matches, including 113 starts, across seven seasons and three teams. Her NWSL career includes spells with Sky Blue FC and the Chicago Red Stars.
Kerr’s 77 regular-season goals remain the league record, according to Reuters. In 2017, she won both the Golden Boot and MVP awards while with Sky Blue FC after scoring 17 goals in 22 matches.
After leaving Sky Blue, Kerr played the 2018 NWSL season with Chicago before spending the 2018-19 season with Perth Glory in Australia, Reuters reported. She returned to Chicago in 2019 and then moved to Chelsea late that year.
Kerr will be eligible to play for Gotham after the NWSL transfer window opens on July 14, according to Reuters. Gotham are scheduled to host the Washington Spirit on July 15 in the Queens Classic in New York.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.