Orlando Pride’s Morgan Gautrat has been loaned to Newcastle United W.F.C. and has retired from the NWSL.
Two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner and NWSL champion Morgan Gautrat has been loaned to the WSL 2 club Newcastle United W.F.C. until the remainder of the season – her contract expires at the end of the season.
“I’m at a point in my career where I want to be a leader and want to be a part of making a mark and a legacy at a place like this at Newcastle to make history,” said Gautrat.
Gautrat enjoyed
a very fruitful career in the NWSL having been selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash. She was later traded to the Chicago Red Stars where she featured in four straight playoffs.
After a short stint with Kansas City Current and ahead the 2024 season, she was traded to Orlando where she appeared in 34 games and earned one assist, helping the club win the NWSL Shield and the Championship.
“We want to thank Morgan for her incredible contributions to our club and the NWSL. Her professionalism, leadership, and dedication have made a lasting impact on our organization and the league as a whole,” said Haley Carter, Vice President and Sporting Director of Orlando Pride. “We understand and fully support Morgan’s decision as she moves into this next chapter. While we’re sad to see her go, we respect her choice to pursue opportunities that align with her personal goals and wish her and her family nothing but success in their future endeavors. Morgan will always be part of our family, and we’re grateful for everything she’s brought to our club.”
This is not Gautrat’s first stint overseas. In 2018, she played for French club OL Lyonnes where she appeared in four matches and recorded one goal and an assist. The club also won the French Division 1 title.
At the international level, she competed in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics with the USWNT. She earned 88 appearances, tallying eight goals and 11 assists.
The St. Simons Island, Ga., native won two FIFA Women’s World Cups in both 2015 and 2019 and was the youngest member of the 2015 winning squad.
The Magpies manager Becky Langley said: “We are absolutely delighted to be adding a player of Morgan’s quality and experience to our squad. She’s a leader, and she will bring so much on and off the pitch for us. We are excited to start working with her.”
Newcastle United are targeting promotion to the top flight of Women’s Super League this season.
