Europe Gains 4 USWNT Players
By: Cinthia Rangel-Godinez
2020 was a crazy year for everyone especially for the United states Women's National Team football super stars Tobin Heath, Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, and Christen Press. These players have the chance to play overseas for the best women's football clubs in England. Lavelle and Mewis had joined Manchester City Football Club. Heath and Press had joined Manchester United Football Club.
Sam Mewis was the first United States midfielder who signed a contract with Manchester City F.C. on Aug. 10, 2020. An announcement confirmed that Mewis was heading overseas to Manchester City F.C. for the 2020-21 season. Mewis' debuted for Manchester City on Aug. 29, 2020. Her Manchester City stats are 28 appearances and 14 goals for the Football Association Women’s Super League within the 2020-21 season.
Following the Manchester City's announcement of Mewis, another shocking announcement was made from the same football club. This time they added United States player and midfielder Rose Lavelle. FIFA named Lavelle number 6 in the 11 Top Player roster. Lavelle was also named The Best FIFA Football player in 2019. Lavelle then signed a contract with Manchester City F.C. joining Sam Mewis for the 2020-21 season of the FA WSL.
The twenty-five year old midfielder had played in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2017 for the Boston Breakers. Washington Spirit F.C. was her second team for the 2018-20 season but on Aug. 16 Washington traded Lavelle to OL Reign F.C. This was the opportunity Lavelle was looking for to sign outside the NWSL which she found with Manchester City F.C.
Succeeding the new signing for Manchester City, there were rumors about Manchester United adding two more United States players including speculation about Megan Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe. On Sept. 9 Manchester United announced that they had signed two forwards from the United States; Tobin Heath and Christen Press. Both heath and Press have played overseas. Press played overseas from 2012-2014 in the Damallsvenskan league and again in 2018 for the same league, but a different team.
Press played for the Swedish league when women's professional soccer in the United States was struggling. Heath also played overseas from 2012-2014 for Paris Saint-Germain. Before they signed with Manchester United, both Heath and Press's clubs had lost their right for the NWSL. Heath and Press made their first Manchester United debut together on Oct. 4, 2020 where they won the match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Both Press and Heath brought speed, agility, and a powerful strike for the team.
In 2021, Tobin Heath had an ankle injury and later became a knee injury. She had to go back home to focus on her recovery and her Manchester United debut had came to an end. With one player in recovery and three other player making their statement in Europe, these players are still striving in the FA WSL. Even if they are the most successful players they are still learning because Europe has younger players playing and competing against veterans.