In April, Ann-Katrin Berger and Jess Carter were part of a powerful Chelsea FC squad en route to another Women’s Super League title under manager Emma Hayes.
On Monday night, Chelsea were at Red Bull Arena as part of their US tour, and Berger and Carter were there too – in uniform for their home team, Gotham FC, the NWSL champions.
This is an example of how Gotham, which was in fourth place when the league returned from its mid-season Olympic break, has become a destination in recent years for prominent European players.
The pipeline of overseas talent has helped expand Gotham’s roster of core United States women’s national team players — who are at home, proudly sporting gold medals (won under new leader Hayes, incidentally), but not fit for exhibition — and reflect well about how the team is perceived globally.
“I think it says a lot, you have players of this caliber that come through,” said Gotham veteran Kelley O’Hara. “And they are very happy to play.”
Berger, 33, joined Gotham in April after falling down Chelsea’s depth chart and has quickly become one of the NWSL’s premier goalkeepers.
He leads the league with 0.75 goals allowed per 90 minutes (nine in 12 games) and ranks second in the advanced goalie stat known as expected goals after a shot (plus-6.1).
His play with Gotham helped him secure his spot as Germany’s No. 1 goalkeeper at the Olympics.
Berger held the U.S. scoreless for 95-plus minutes in the semifinals until Sophia Smith’s goal, and she turned around to help Germany beat Spain in the bronze medal game.
“I want to play in the Olympics, I want to make a difference here, and these have been two big accomplishments, and I think everything I’ve done, I’ve done,” Berger said. “So now I have to find another goal and … the (NWSL championship) ring looks great. So I’m not bothered if I get one.”
Carter, a 26-year-old defender who is also engaged to Berger, joined Gotham last month after six seasons with Chelsea and made his debut during the break in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.
He scored Gotham’s only goal in a 3-1 loss against Chelsea in front of 10,990 people who were well-announced at the back.
“Chelsea never put me in a corner, she always left me behind, so I laughed,” Carter said with a laugh.
It jibes with the way he was recruited by Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós.
“I’ve always been told, ‘A good quarterback, you know, defends,'” Carter said. “But the first thing is that we see what he can do on the ball, but we need that consistency. And he really wants to help me improve, and, for me, that’s great.
The title move comes after Gotham’s title run last season was helped by the addition of Maitane López, a Spanish defender who previously played for Atlético Madrid, and forward Esther González, a World Cup winner with Spain and former Real Madrid player who scored the game. -winning goal in the 2023 NWSL final.
And just last week, Gotham announced the signing of forward Jéssica Silva, who featured for the Portugal team that qualified the USWNT for the World Cup last summer and most recently played for Portuguese giants Benfica.
Silva is expected to join Gotham for the second half, which begins Saturday at home against the Portland Thorns.
“We want to be a club recognized for our style, the environment we create and the football we play,” said Amorós, “and have the best players in the world who we think fit the way we want, play fun, winners. , is who you want to be.”
