One of the top forwards on the U.S. Women’s National Team is taking on a brand-new challenge for the 2017 season.
Crystal Dunn was announced as the first signing of 2017 for Chelsea Ladies in England. The 24-year-old, who is one of the top goalscorers on the USWNT, makes the move to the English club from the Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
‘It’s a big personal challenge for me but I am ready to take this next step in my career,” Dunn said. “Playing for Chelsea is a unique opportunity for me to take my game to another level and I think the moment is right.”
Jumping overseas to play for a foreign club is a rare move nowadays for USWNT players with the emergence of the NWSL, but Dunn is the second big name to leave the domestic league for a chance to play in Europe this winter. Alex Morgan moved to Lyon on a loan deal from Orlando Pride at the start of the offseason.
Dunn has already made 45 appearances for the USWNT, and she has found the back of the net on 18 occasions. She joins a squad chock full of England internationals, including Eniola Aluko, Fran Kirby and Claire Rafferty.
Good for her!!! I think that USWNT players, playing around the world, will broaden their experience and open the door for other U. S. Players to show their stuff in the NWSL.
These girls are really stupid for doing this, but if the USWNT players hadn’t negotiated into their contract that no one could make more than them in the league then maybe more of Europe’s best would be coming to NWSL. Way to make the North America the women’s league of choice Hope, Abby, Carly, et al
How are they stupid?
Because the players at Chelsea and England are not as good as the competition in North America
That may or may not be true. I actually do not know enough about women’s club soccer. It certainly can’t hurt to get exposed to different styles of play in the women’s champions league (although Chelsea Women were knocked out in the previous round). All I know is that some of women who had played abroad do play a more attacking style.
Hopefully, they pay more.