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Rose Lavelle signs Gotham FC contract extension through 2029
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- Rose Lavelle signs Gotham FC contract extension through 2029
Rose Lavelle signs Gotham FC contract extension through 2029
Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle has signed a contract extension that will keep the U.S. women's national team veteran at her NWSL club through 2029, Gotham confirmed on Tuesday.
The Athletic previously reported at the start of this month that the 31-year-old had signed the three-year extension as her contract neared its expiration at the end of this year. ESPN was first to report the deal.
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"I'm incredibly happy to extend my time with Gotham FC," Lavelle said in a club statement. "From the moment I arrived, this club has challenged me to keep growing and has given me the opportunity to compete for championships alongside a great group of players and staff.
"I'm really proud of what we've accomplished together, but I feel like there is still so much ahead of us. I'm excited to continue building something special here."
Lavelle, a 2026 Ballon d'Or nominee, has proven to be a centerpiece in Gotham's success since joining the team in 2024. The crafty player has appeared in 68 matches across all competitions for Gotham, tallying 18 goals and four assists. Last year, she scored the NWSL championship-winning goal that helped Gotham secure their second league title in three seasons. For her efforts, Lavelle was named the NWSL Championship MVP.
"Rose is one of the best players in the world, and we're proud she has committed her future to Gotham FC," said Yael Averbuch West, the club's president of soccer operations, in a statement. "She has an extraordinary ability to change games, and we've seen her deliver for this club in the biggest moments.
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"Just as importantly, Rose embodies the ambition and competitive standard we want at Gotham FC. We're thrilled that she will continue to be such an important part of what we're building."
ESPN previously reported that Gotham expected to use the NWSL's new High Impact Player rule to fit the midfielder's salary into the team's salary cap. Had her contract run down, she would have become one of the NWSL's most sought-after free agents.
Her decision to stay at Gotham through 2029 is crucial, as the club prepares to relocate its home matches from Sports Illustrated Arena in Harrison, N.J., to Etihad Park in Queens beginning in 2028.
So far this season, the Cincinnati native has appeared in 21 regular season matches for Gotham (19 starts), scoring four goals and recording one assist. She has been critical in helping Gotham maintain momentum at the top of the NWSL table. The team currently sits atop the league standings with 54 points, six ahead of the second-place San Diego Wave. Gotham remains the first and only club to have clinched a spot in this year's postseason, and is closing in on its first NWSL Shield with four games remaining in the regular season.
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Lavelle signed with Gotham in 2024 alongside fellow USWNT teammate Emily Sonnett , joining the team just a few weeks after playing against the New Jersey side in the 2023 NWSL Championship while the pair were still with the OL Reign. Lavelle scored Seattle's lone goal in the 2-1 final against Gotham, which ultimately resulted in Gotham's first league title.
On the international stage, Lavelle is one of the most capped players currently in Emma Hayes' rotation. The World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist has earned 122 caps for the national team, recording 29 goals and 29 assists. She will likely be a key figure in the team's upcoming camp that features matches against reigning Women's World Cup winner Spain and serves as vital preparation ahead of World Cup qualifiers in November.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic .
US Women's national team, Gotham FC, NWSL, Women's Soccer
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