Image source: theguardian.com
Sam Coffey has completed her transfer from Portland Thorns to Manchester City for a reported fee of around $800,000, becoming the latest USWNT star to leave the NWSL for European football. The 27-year-old midfielder’s departure means more than half of the US Olympic gold medal-winning starting lineup now play professionally in Europe.
Sam Coffey Completes $800,000 Transfer From Portland Thorns to Manchester City
The deep-lying midfielder and Portland captain earned more USWNT minutes than any other player in 2025 before making the move to England’s Women’s Super League. Coffey’s transfer fee demonstrates European clubs’ willingness to invest significant sums for American talent across the roster, not just high-profile goalscorers. The reported $800,000 fee trails only Naomi Girma’s $1.1 million move from San Diego Wave to Chelsea.
Coffey expressed her long-held ambition to play in Europe when announcing her departure from Portland. “For as long as I’ve kicked a ball, I’ve always dreamed of playing professional soccer in Europe, and it’s something I simply have to pursue,” the midfielder said in a farewell video released by the Thorns. Her move continues a dramatic shift in where USWNT players compete professionally under head coach Emma Hayes.
The exodus of American stars has accelerated since Hayes took charge of the national team in 2023. Out of the seven players with the most USWNT minutes in 2025, only two – Emily Sonnett and Claire Hutton – remain playing in the NWSL. Hayes previously had to assure NWSL board of governors that she was not actively pushing players to leave the domestic league, according to ESPN reports.
The trend reflects broader changes in women’s football economics, with European clubs backed by successful men’s teams able to outspend NWSL clubs constrained by salary cap restrictions. Top European clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona and Lyon have demonstrated ambitions that match their financial freedom, creating a global market that the NWSL struggles to compete with despite recent signings of college prospects and international players.
Trinity Rodman remains a free agent after the NWSL blocked her contract with Washington Spirit in December, with the forward receiving interest from European clubs. If Rodman signs abroad, only four players from the 2024 Olympic gold medal starting lineup would remain on NWSL rosters for the upcoming domestic season, highlighting the league’s challenge in retaining top American talent.
