Manchester City signs American midfielder Sam Coffey for 600,000 pounds sterling

Manchester City has signed American midfielder Sam Coffey from Portland Thorns on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

City paid an $800,000 (£600,000) fee for Coffey, who spent four years at the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club.

The 27-year-old has been a target for Manchester City for several months, with the club making an offer for her in the summer but it was rejected.

“The city has really stood out from the beginning. First and foremost, [it was] “The style of play, when I watch the team, the girls look happy and close and connected,” Coffey said.

“I think I’m at a point in my career where I feel ready and settled as a professional. This feels like the right time to really challenge myself in this way.

“The reality is that it’s official, I’m here and all of this is real and it’s happening and it’s so exciting, and I couldn’t be more prepared and happy about it all.”

Widely considered one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, Coffey has made 42 appearances for the US national team.

She played nearly 100 games for the Portland Thorns and helped them win the 2022 NWSL Championship.

The midfielder was also part of the USA squad led by former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, which won gold at the 2024 Olympics.