U.S. women’s national team midfielder Sam Coffey has completed a transfer from the NWSL’s Portland Thorns to Manchester City.
Coffey has signed with the Women’s Super League side through 2029, joining for a fee of $875,000 plus potential add-ons, ESPN reported.
The 27-year-old has become a fixture for club and country since turning pro in 2022. Coffey spent four seasons with the Thorns, earning NWSL Best XI First Team honors in three of those campaigns.
Thorns president and general manager Jeff Agoos said the club tried to keep Coffey, but the New York native wanted a new challenge in her career.
‘Sam has been an exceptional player and a leader within this squad,’ Agoos said in a news release. ‘While the Thorns organization did everything it could to keep Sam in Portland, we thought it was important to support her ambitions while we continue building a team capable of competing for championships.
‘We are grateful for her contributions and wish her success as she pursues her next opportunity.’
Coffey is considered one of the best holding midfielders in the world, and is set to boost a City side that currently leads Chelsea by six points atop the WSL table.
‘Sam’s reputation as one of the world’s best speaks for itself, and we’re delighted she’s chosen to come here ahead of other potential suitors,’ said City director of football Therese Sjogran.
‘We believe she has all the qualities needed to thrive at City and, more broadly, the WSL, and we’re excited to see how she can elevate our already superb squad of players.
‘Sam is playing at the top of her game, and I think her decision to come here shows the incredible progress we’ve made as a club and the ambitions we have moving forward.’
Coffey is the latest in a group of USWNT stars who have moved to England over the past two years, joining Alyssa Thompson and Naomi Girma at Chelsea and Emily Fox at Arsenal.
The midfielder has earned 42 caps for the USWNT to date, forming a key piece of the team that won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics.