Abby Dahlkemper has become the third US Women’s National team player to join Manchester City after the club announced her signing today.
Dahlkemper, 27, signed a two-and-a-half year contract to join City after a four year spell with North Carolina Courage where she was named in the NWSL division’s best XI three times.
The experienced American central defender has 62 caps for the World Champions, playing almost every minute of every game as they lifted the World Cup in 2019.
The Californian, from Menlo Park, played in college with the UCLA Bruins, where she helped secure the National Championship in 2013.
After a brief spell in Australia with Adelaide United she moved to Western New York Flash where she won the NWSL title in 2016.
She joined North Carolina Courage in 2017 after Western New York Flash was sold to the Owners of North Carolina FC and played in every minute of their NWSL Shield victory before being named in the season’s NWSL Best XI and voted as the league’s Defender of the Year.
After three years at the Courage, Dahlkemper joins her USNWT team mates Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle, who joined City last August.
She will wear the number 13 shirt at Manchester City and will provide competition for City’s captain Steph Houghton, and Gemma Bonner, Aoife Mannion, and Alex Greenwood.
Dahlkemper said: “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 FAWSL, 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 [Mewis] and Rose [Lavelle] 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.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor said: “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.”
Gavin Makel, Managing Director of Manchester City Women, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Abby to the club, who brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the very top.
“Her record speaks for itself in terms of what she has achieved in the game, whilst her hard work and determination to improve are just two elements of the type of player and person she is.
“I’m thoroughly looking forward to seeing her join up with the rest of the team.”