Orlando Pride signs English striker Jodie Taylor on a one-year contract and joins the team until the end of the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League season. The team acquired its rights from the North Carolina Courage in February, the club revealed on July 8.
The English player is no stranger to the American league. Taylor first joined the NWSL in 2014 after signing with Washington Spirit, where she scored 11 goals in 21 games. A year later, Taylor signed with the Portland Thorns before entering the spotlight with Reign.
Taylor spent the 2018-2020 NWSL seasons with OL Reign, recording 14 goals and four assists in 47 overall appearances. After the Challenge Cup 2020, the player’s rights to Courage were traded before they were eventually picked up by Orlando Pride.
Jodie, welcome to O-Town! ? #AdAstra pic.twitter.com/bVemp2l9R1
– Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) July 8, 2021
“Jodie is a proven scorer and has carried it across every club and every league she played for and in, and the value of her experience and professionalism is immeasurable,” said Orlando Pride, CEO Ian Fleming.
“The daily effect of having a player of his caliber in the squad will be a lift for our entire group as we continue to move towards our goals for this season. We are happy to welcome Jodie back to the NWSL after her year in France and happy that she will be a member of Pride. ”
Taylor joins Pride after competing with the dominant French side Olympique Lyon during the feminine season 2020-21. The game appeared in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2020 and came on to secure the trophy in a 3-1 victory over VfL Wolfsburg. She made six overall appearances during the team’s Champions League campaign in 2020 and scored one goal.
The experienced forward was also introduced to Arsenal, competing in the English Super League for women, significantly one of the most competitive right now. She scored ten goals in 17 appearances for Arsenal in two seasons. She appeared briefly in the Australian league with Melbourne Victory in 2010 and then again in 2017.
Internationally, the player has represented England’s national team on various occasions, which has mostly led the team to become fourth in the FIFA World Cup for women 2019.
