HARRISON, NJ (Tuesday, February 21, 2023) – NJ/NY Gotham FC today announced the signing of midfielder/forward Yazmeen Ryan to a new three-year contract with one option year. Acquired as a part of a three-way trade in January with Angel City FC and Portland Thorns FC, Ryan is a vital part of Gotham FC’s bold new vision for 2023 and beyond.
“I signed long-term because this is going to be an exciting process for Gotham FC and I want to be here every step of the way,” said Ryan. “I believe I fit perfectly with our club because I perform my best when my back is against the wall. I’m excited to be here as the vision for Gotham FC comes to life. It also means a lot that the club has shown their belief in me and wanted me in New York-New Jersey for many years to come. It’s extremely motivating and I’m really excited to go on this journey with Gotham FC.”
Ryan began her pro career after being selected sixth overall by the Portland Thorns in the 2021 NWSL Draft. In her two seasons with the club, the Thorns won the NWSL championship in 2022 and the NWSL Shield and Women’s International Champions Cup in 2021. Last season with Portland, Ryan scored two goals and had five assists in 20 games, and she was a starter in the club’s NWSL Championship win over the Kansas City Current on Oct 29, 2022.
Raised in Norman, Oklahoma, Ryan played collegiately at TCU, where she became the program’s all-time leader in assists (23). She also ranks third in points and fifth in goals. After leading TCU in scoring in her senior season in 2020-21, Ryan was named a First Team All-American by United Soccer Coaches, First Team Best XI by Top Drawer Soccer, First Team All-Big 12, and a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the top college player in the country.
“Yazmeen is an exciting player with the ability to make a difference with and without the ball,” said Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “She is very intelligent on the pitch. She can beat players 1v1 and she continually makes effective decisions. Yazmeen is a great player now, but we believe she has the potential to be one of the best players in the league and in the world in the coming years. That’s why I’m so delighted the club and Yazmeen worked together on a contract that keeps her part of Gotham FC long-term.”
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