Orlando Pride Forward Alex Morgan Takes Talents To France
America’s darling forward — Orlando Pride’s Alex Morgan — will be taking her talents Division 1 Féminine in France as she joins Lyon for the offseason. Morgan will play out the entire D1F league and will return for the Pride’s second season in the NWSL in May.
NWSL Soccer News: Off to play abroad – that seems to the trend for talented American soccer players looking to improve their game during the off season.
While one wonders if this will actually improve their game, players are flocking overseas today and the trend is clear – playing abroad heightens one’s list of accomplishments. Now America’s favorite forward has packed her bags.
U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan has announced her decision to play the first half of 2017 in France as she joins Olympique Lyonnais. Morgan will return to the Orlando Pride following the conclusion of Lyon’s 2016-17 season in May.
“We are obviously disappointed that Alex will miss the beginning of the Pride season but understand her wishes to play in Europe and we look forward to her rejoining her teammates after Lyon’s season,” Orlando City SC Founder and President Phil Rawlins said. “This in no way affects our plans or commitment to growing Orlando Pride and we will continue providing the team the best available players, training resources and staff to become a championship contender in the NWSL and a leader in women’s professional soccer.”
“My decision to play for Lyon was not an easy one, but it is an important step in my evolution as a player,” Morgan said. “I want to thank the Pride and our incredible fans and community for their continued support. I look forward to returning home this summer as a better player and leader to join my teammates at our new stadium as we compete for a NWSL Championship.”
Morgan addressed her supporters in a letter with The Players’ Tribune:
Lyon is a team that’s world-renowned for excellence, with a roster that includes many of the greatest players in the world. In fact, Lyon won all three possible titles last season: Champions League, French League and the Coupe de France. They are committed to growing women’s soccer and provide the women with first-class facilities and an unparalleled training environment on par with the men’s team.
Importantly, I will also be immersed in a soccer culture that I believe is precisely what I need at this point in my career. It has always been a dream of mine to “live” soccer and to compete in the Champions League.
For Morgan’s full statement visit here.
Orlando competed in its inaugural NWSL season in 2016 with Morgan, who was acquired from the Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the rights to the team’s first Expansion Draft selection, the first-round selection (No. 1 overall) in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, and one international roster spot for the 2016 and 2017 season.
After a strong start to the 2016 season, Orlando fell to the bottom half of the table following the international break for the Rio Olympics. Morgan recorded four goals and one assist during the expansion club’s first campaign. Over the offseason, the Pride have added USWNT defender Ali Krieger to its backline with hopes of bringing her veteran prowess to the club.
Morgan joins numerous NWSL who have taken their talents abroad in order to remain fit during the offseason as well as to test themselves in new waters. A number of players transferred to Australia’s Westfield W-League for its 2016/17 campaign, which will ultimately conclude prior to the NWSL 2017 season kickoff.
Related Article: NWSL Players Head to Australia
