Football
Kathleen McNamee 4y

USWNT's Rose Lavelle joins Sam Mewis at Manchester City

U.S. women's national team central midfielder and 2019 World Cup winner Rose Lavelle has joined Manchester City, the club announced on Tuesday. 

On Sunday, Washington Spirit announced they had traded the 25-year-old to OL Reign in exchange for a first round draft pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft, $100,000 in allocation money and additional allocation money based on her future playing status in the NWSL. 

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"I knew always at some point in my career I wanted to come and experience playing overseas and play somewhere in Europe and Man City is obviously an incredible club," Lavelle told ESPN. "I think they are one of the best clubs in the world and they have a lot of resources for the men's and women's side so that was something I definitely wanted to be a part of. It was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up."

"Over in the U.S. we're very aggressive and fast-paced and I think to gain the experience of going somewhere else and learning to adjust to a new playing style was something that was really going to challenge me and help grow my game." 

Lavelle is looking forward to lining up against teams like Arsenal and Chelsea but also West Ham since their coach Matt Beard was her first professional boss when she played with the Boston Breakers.

"That will be fun to see him again and play against them," she added.

"There are just so many opportunities to win. There's Champions League and FA Cup and all these different titles to chase after and it is going to be a fun challenge."

Despite the switch in pace, Lavelle is confident she will be able to adjust quickly and said it should only take her "one or two weeks" to catch up. 

Lavelle joining USWNT teammate Sam Mewis at the club for the 2020-21 season. 

"I just want to be somewhere that is going to push me out of my comfort zone," Lavelle said.

"I want to become the best version of myself as a player and as a person. I hope that this move can help me do that and I think from a team perspective I obviously still need to get over and get in the environment but I hope we can just literally win everything." 

Lavelle is still in the U.S. due to prior commitments but will join up with the team in the coming weeks.

She has 35 caps for the national side and 12 goals including her spectacular left-footed strike against Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final.

She played six of the side's seven games during the tournament and won the Bronze Ball for her three goals.  

Lavelle's history in domestic competitions has been more checkered as she has struggled with an hamstring injury which saw her make 21 appearances across all competitions during her three seasons with Washington. 

"I'm feeling really good. Fit and ready to go. There are some great support staff at Man City so I feel like I'm going to be in great hands," she said. 

She was picked for the NWSL Challenge Cup Best XI for her four appearances at the tournament. While she only scored once, in their opening game against Chicago Red Stars, she was key to several attacks for Washington and finished the tournament with a 100% long pass success rate.

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