Emily Sams is relocating from the east coast to the west coast.
The experienced defender has been traded from Orlando Pride to Angel City FC and has signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles-based team. In exchange, Orlando received $650,000 in transfer funds.
“Angel City is a club with ambition and a strong commitment to excellence, which is what attracted me to this opportunity,” Sams stated in a press release. “I am looking forward to growing as a player in a competitive environment that values winning and community connection. It already feels like family here, and I’m eager to compete for championships in LA and represent the best fan base at BMO Stadium.”
Sams was initially picked by the Pride in the first round of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft after a successful college career at Florida State. She started her professional journey in Sweden, joining Damallsvenskan in 2022.
In the NWSL, she has made 72 regular-season appearances, starting 70 of them, scoring one goal and providing one assist over 6,345 minutes. She played a key role in leading the Orlando Pride to a 2024 NWSL Championship title and the 2024 NWSL Shield title. That same year, she was recognized as the NWSL’s Defender of the Year and was included in the league’s Best XI.
“Emily is an outstanding defender who brings valuable championship experience to Los Angeles,” said ACFC Sporting Director Mark Parsons. “She is a true professional with high standards and will contribute to our team culture while raising the performance level of those around her. We believe our technical staff can help her reach new heights, and I am looking forward to seeing her impact both on and off the field as we compete for trophies in the future.”
Sams was recently called up to the U.S. women’s national team camp in January, which includes friendlies against Paraguay on January 24 and Chile on January 27. She has made seven appearances for the senior U.S. team and was named an alternate for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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