The US international Kristie Mewis has joined West Ham United, calling the move “a dream come true”.
The midfielder, 32, arrives on the back of a successful spell at Gotham FC, having helped the New Jersey outfit secure their first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) title. She brings huge experience, having made more than 170 NWSL appearances over the course of her career, winning the NWSL Challenge Cup with Houston Dash in 2020, as well as earning 53 caps for the US women‘s national. team.
“I am delighted to be joining West Ham United,” she said after the move was announced. “I have always wanted to play in the Women’s Super League and, now that everything has fallen into place, it feels like a dream come true.
“When I visited London for the first time, I went to my first football match at Upton Park. The culture and energy of West Ham captivated me straight away and nothing has ever lived up to that moment – it was one of the happiest days of my life. It feels like I have come a full circle from that moment and it’s incredible to now be officially part of the West Ham family. I will work hard, try to lead by example and give everything for this badge.”
Rehanne Skinner, the West Ham manager, was similarly pleased by Mewis’s arrival. “We are delighted to welcome Kristie to West Ham United,” she said. “Kristie brings a wealth of experience, having played across a number of different continents throughout her career and her involvement with the national team over 11 years, gaining more than 50 caps, has helped to change the landscape of women’s football across the world.
“Kristie understands the vision of the West Ham United women’s team and it was clear from our first conversation that she wants to be a part of that vision. Kristie’s capabilities as a box-to-box midfielder, her energy and her leadership will be a huge asset to the team moving forwards and I’m really looking forward to working with her.”
Fran Alonso declared himself a Celtic fan for life after leaving his role as the club's women's team manager.
The Spaniard, who arrived at Celtic in January 2020 from Lewes, will join Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League as head coach.
Alonso told Celtic's website: "I was not born a Celtic supporter but I will definitely die as one and I will support Celtic for the rest of my life.
"The club, the team, the people and the Celtic community has been everything to me during the past four years and has lit up my life. It has been a wonderful adventure.
"The values, the spirit and the ethos of the club has been everything to me and I am so proud to have held the position of Celtic manager.
"I am very sad to leave Celtic and it was a really hard decision to make. However, the new opportunity in America is one that I dreamt about since I started coaching in the women's game and I know our Celtic supporters will understand.
"During the last four years I have given absolutely everything to Celtic, on and off the field, and I am delighted that we have made history in so many occasions – our very first Uefa Champions League qualification, our very first Scottish Cup, our first win in the Uefa Champions League, three trophies won, and [we] managed to be just minutes away from winning our very first league title."
Alonso's arrival at Celtic coincided with the team turning professional. The League Cup final win in 2021 was followed with back-to-back Scottish Cup successes in 2022 and 2023, while two second-placed finishes in the Scottish Women's Premier League also facilitated the club's first two experiences in the Women's Champions' League.
Michael Nicholson, the Celtic chief executive, said: "I would like to sincerely thank Fran for the fantastic contribution he has made to the development of our women's team.
"We will also look to build on the progress that the team have made on a European level over the last couple of years.
"While we are hugely disappointed to lose Fran, everyone at the club sincerely wishes him every success in his new challenge.
"The work on identifying his successor has already begun and we will make an announcement on the position as soon as possible."
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Mewis is a three-times SheBelieves Cup winner with the USWNT and has also tasted victory in the Concacaf Women’s Championship. It will not be her first foray in European football, having spent a brief stint on loan at Bayern Munich earlier in her career.
The move comes a month after Mewis got engaged to her partner, and fellow professional, the Australia striker Sam Kerr, who plays for the WSL champions, Chelsea.
