Two-time Women’s World Cup winner Morgan Gautrat has signed on loan for Newcastle United from Orlando Pride.
Gautrat – better known under her maiden name Morgan Brian – will be with the WSL2 side until the end of December.
“It’s been a warm welcome, and I feel like I’ve been welcomed with open arms, and people have told me nothing but nice things about the city and the fans,” Gautrat said in a press statement.
“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.”
Newcastle manager Becky Langley added: “We are absolutely delighted to be adding a player of Morgan’s quality and experience to our squad.
“She has performed at the highest level for her whole career, and brings with her a world-class mentality, having won some of the biggest trophies in the game for both club and country.
“Morgan is a leader, and she will bring so much on and off the pitch for us. We are excited to start working with her.”
Morgan Gautrat’s amazing career so far
Orlando Pride enjoyed a hugely successful 2024 season, collecting 60 points en route to the NWSL Shield and then the NWSL Championship. They have recently broken the world record transfer fee in women’s football by signing Lizbeth Ovalle for £1.1m.
“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 organisation 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 endeavours. Morgan will always be part of our family, and we’re grateful for everything she’s brought to our club.”
Gautrat, now 32 years old, has spent time in Europe before, helping Olympique Lyonnais to the league title in 2018. However, she was there for only five months of her two-and-a-half-year deal, returning to the US in June 2018.
She has also played for Kansas City Current and Houston Dash, and enjoyed two spells at Chicago Red Stars.
Internationally, she has 88 caps for the US women’s national team, and was part of the squad that won the Women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019.
She had earlier enjoyed an exceptional junior international career, winning the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship and the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2012. This was while she was still at college, representing the Virginia Cavaliers, scoring 41 goals in her 81 appearances for them. In 2013, she was named winner of the Hermann Trophy – an award for the best women’s college player – and won it again the year after, making her the fifth woman to win it twice, following in the footsteps of Mia Hamm, Cindy Parlow, Christina Sinclair and Kerri Hanks.
Newcastle United begin their campaign in WSL2 when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, 7th September.
