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Graham HaysESPN.com
United States women’s national team and Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan will join Tottenham Hotspur, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.
The Athletic first reported Morgan’s impending move to the London club.
– Stream ‘Alex Morgan: The Equalizer’ on ESPN+
Morgan, 31, is the latest in a line of USWNT stars joining the FA Women’s Super League for the 2020-21 season. Manchester United earlier this week announced the additions of Tobin Heath and Christen Press, while Manchester City earlier signed Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis. All five Americans played in the 2019 World Cup final.
Sources confirmed that Morgan’s contract runs through the final four months of the calendar year but also contains an option to stay at Tottenham through the end of its season in May.
This will be Morgan’s second time playing professionally in Europe. She signed with Lyon under a similar arrangement for the second half of its 2016-17 season. Lyon went on to win the Champions League that season, although injuries limited Morgan’s time on the field.
As an allocated player in the NWSL, her league salary is paid by U.S. Soccer, and there is no transfer fee due to either the Pride or the U.S. federation.
Morgan will join Orlando teammates Alanna Kennedy and Shelina Zadorsky with Tottenham, which was promoted to the English top division this season. As with Morgan’s situation, Canada international Zadorsky is an allocated player in the NWSL.
Morgan recently returned to Orlando to begin training with the Pride in advance of the truncated NWSL fall schedule. Orlando coach Marc Skinner said last week that he anticipated Morgan joining full team training this week and playing minutes for the team in its fall games. She has not played since giving birth to her daughter Charlie in May.