With multiple players leaving the team for the Olympics next week, the Orlando Pride have bolstered their backline with the signing of former Manchester United defender Amy Turner, the club announced on Friday.
Turner signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional season, with the Pride using allocation money to make the deal happen.
“Amy is a player we identified early in our recruitment process for this season who could add more quality in a key position for us, allowing us to both strengthen the way we play now, while opening opportunities for more tactically flexible play moving forward,” general manager Ian Fleming said in a club statement. “Amy’s body of work as a professional speaks for itself. She’s fought her way up the English tiers of football and played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, and now she’ll challenge herself again by playing in the most competitive league in the world as a member of the Pride. We’re thrilled to bring her to Orlando.”
The former Manchester United defender played 67 matches with the Reds, scoring four goals over the past three years and winning the FA Cup in 2019.
“I think it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, to come and play in this league,” Turner said on Friday, “I’d played in England around 10 years, so I felt like it was it was time for change, put myself out of my comfort zone and I think sometimes that’s a way of getting better, of learning, of experiencing new things. As soon as I knew Orlando Pride were interested, I jumped at the chance really and I’m just I’m really grateful to be here and I can’t wait to get started.”
The centerback started her career with Doncaster in England, but spent two years in the U.S. playing Division I soccer in New York at Hofstra University. After coming back to the U.K, she spent spells at Leeds United, Sheffield, Notts County, Liverpool and, since 2018, Manchester United.
“I’m a player that always gives 100%,” Turner said, “I’m quite a brave player, I’ll put my body on the line for the team, and ultimately I’m a selfless player. I know the team comes first and I’ll be whatever the team needs me needs to be.”
The Pride’s next match is on Saturday in Houston against the Dash, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. on Paramount+.
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