Nigeria Players Abroad
OFFICIAL: Asisat Oshoala joins NWSL side Bay FC from European champions Barcelona
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward, Asisat Oshoala has completed her move to National Women’s Soccer League side, Bay FC in the United States of America (USA), for a two-year deal, with an option of 12-month extension.
Insiders in Spain, had told NigeriaFootball.ng that the 29-year-old left the Spanish city of Barcelona early this week to arrive at the NWSL club base, Bay FC in San Jose on Tuesday, as corroborated by US sources.
The six-time Africa Women’s Player of the Year completed her switch to the new NWSL franchise from European champions, FC Barcelona finally was unveiled on Thursday, keeping her at Bay through to 2026.
In February 2019, Oshoala had joined the Catalan side from China on loan before she made the move permanent in the summer and went on to spend five years with the Spanish champions, scoring 117 goals and winning 14 trophies.
The former FC Robo Queens and Rivers Angels star won the top goal scorer award in the Spanish Liga F in the 2023 and had her best season at the end of the 2022/2023 season with 21 goals after league games.
The acquisition of reigning African best swells the sense of postivity around the NWSL outfit ahead of the 2024 season, following the signing of Venezuelan international Deyna Castellanos from Manchester City.
The move increased the number of Nigerian players in the NWSL to four, with Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville) and Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash) among the other Nigerian players in the American championship.
The Super Falcon will be aim to spearhead the club’s attack, giving her the chance to continue her professional jourey with regular playing time when they kick off their inaugural NWSL season against Angel City on March 17.
