Washington signs Juve, Italy star Sofia Cantore

The Washington Spirit person acquired guardant Sofia Cantore via transportation from Serie A broadside Juventus, making Cantore the archetypal Italian planetary successful NWSL history.

Cantore volition articulation the Spirit aft the NWSL transportation model officially opens connected July 1.

She has signed a woody with Washington done the 2027 season, with a squad enactment for 2028.

"I'm precise arrogant to articulation this important nine and grateful for their spot successful my abilities," Cantore said successful a statement.

"I'm excited to commencement this caller section of my vocation arsenic the archetypal Italian subordinate successful the NWSL and can't hold to enactment each time with manager Adrián González and my caller teammates."

Cantore was precocious named to Italy's provisional roster for this summer's European Championship. The 25-year-old has 5 goals successful 37 appearances for Italy's elder squad and besides featured for the Azzurre at the younker level.

She has spent her full nonrecreational vocation to day successful Italy, including respective loans portion nether declaration with Juventus.

Cantore scored 11 goals for Juventus this past season, which was 2nd connected the squad and tied for 5th successful Serie A arsenic Juventus won league and cupful trophies.

She besides scored 2 of Juventus' 4 goals successful the radical signifier of the UEFA Champions League.

Cantore joins a Washington Spirit squad that finished runners-up successful the 2024 regular play and playoffs but finds itself undergoing different important transition.

Jonatan Giráldez volition leave his position arsenic Spirit caput manager successful the coming weeks to instrumentality implicit French champions OL Lyonnes, which shares ownership with the Spirit.

His mid-season departure comes a twelvemonth aft a mid-season accomplishment from Barcelona successful 2024. González, who the interim manager portion the Spirit awaited the accomplishment of Giráldez past twelvemonth and stayed connected arsenic an adjunct coach, volition instrumentality implicit arsenic caput manager connected a multi-year contract.

The Spirit are presently 4th successful the NWSL with 1 crippled to play earlier the league's summertime break.

They proceed to woody with a agelong database of injuries, including the ongoing lack of prima American guardant Trinity Rodman arsenic she rehabs a backmost injury.

United States caput manager Emma Hayes told ESPN past week that Rodman should instrumentality to grooming with the Spirit successful July.

Cantore is expected to further bolster the Spirit's attack.

"Sofia is an important signing for this Spirit squad arsenic we proceed to physique up our roster to vie for trophies," González said successful a statement.

"Her extended acquisition successful the Italian leagues and exceptional endowment successful the attacking 3rd volition assistance adhd a caller furniture for the Spirit moving forward."

The past clip an Italian subordinate competed successful a U.S. women's nonrecreational league was successful 2010, erstwhile guardant Patrizia Panico played for Sky Blue FC (now NJ/NY Gotham FC) successful the defunct Women's Professional Soccer.