Australian striker Sam Kerr will join Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League after spending the past six-plus seasons with Chelsea.
Gotham announced Monday that it has signed Carr to a contract that will keep him with the team through 2030. The move marks a return to the NWSL for Kerr, who played for Sky Blue (later Gotham) from 2015 to 2017.
She also played for Chicago Red Stars before moving to Chelsea in November 2019. Carr remains the NWSL’s regular season leading scorer with 77 career goals, and was the league’s leading scorer for three consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2019. She won the league MVP award in 2017 and 2019.
Kerr, 32, is also Australia’s top scorer for men and women with 75 international goals, ahead of men’s leader Tim Cahill with 51 goals. She led the Matildas to the semi-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“I’m very excited to return to Gotham FC and this city,” Kerr said in a statement released by the team. “This club has been an important part of my journey and to be back in this moment with everything Gotham has built is truly special. The ambition here is clear and I look forward to helping this team compete for trophies and create more history.”
Known for celebrating backflip goals, Kerr is widely considered one of the best strikers in the world. She is the only player to have won the Golden Boot in three different leagues.
“Sam is one of the leading players of his generation and a game-changing talent who has consistently contributed at the highest levels of world soccer,” said Gotham FC Director of Soccer Operations Yael Apfelbach-West. “Her winning mentality, relentless competitive spirit, and ability to decide games on the fly make her one of the most impactful players in the game. Bringing Sam back to Gotham is a landmark moment for our club, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Gotham won the league title last year and in 2023. The team’s rich roster already includes players such as Esther González, who won the 2023 World Cup with Spain, German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, American midfielder Rose Lavelle and English defender Jess Carter.
Kerr scored 17 goals for Chelsea last season. She scored 65 goals in the Women’s Super League and won the league’s Golden Boot twice. She scored 116 goals in all competitions, equaling Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer Fran Kirby. Chelsea won five WSL titles, three FA Cups and three League Cups during Kerr’s tenure.
She also played professionally in the Australian W-League.
Kerr is married to Christie Mewis, an American who played not only for the U.S. national team, but also in the NWSL and British WSL. The couple have a son, Jagger Meuse-Carr, who was born in May 2025.
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