Angel City FC star heading to Europe in record NWSL transfer

Angel City Football Club has agreed to a record-setting transfer for one of soccer’s young rising stars.

On Friday, the team announced it had agreed to transfer forward Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea FC Women in the highest outgoing transfer fee in National Women’s Soccer League history.

Thompson, 20, joined Angel City as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, becoming the first high school player ever selected. Her move to the English Women’s Super League comes after two standout seasons in Los Angeles, where she emerged as one of the league’s brightest young stars.

During her time with ACFC, Thompson scored 15 goals and recorded 11 assists in 62 regular-season appearances. She also made her debut with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2022 and has since earned 22 caps and netted three international goals.

“We thank Alyssa for her contributions to Angel City and are grateful for the mark she has left on our team and the city of Los Angeles,” the club said in a statement. “While we respect her decision to leave, Angel City’s focus remains firmly on building a championship-winning club.”

Chelsea, one of Europe’s most dominant clubs, has added Thompson to a roster already packed with international stars.

Born in Studio City, Thompson made history with her younger sister Gisele in May when the pair connected for the first sister-to-sister goal in NWSL history during a match against the Washington Spirit.

In a related move, Gisele Thompson, 19, agreed to a new deal with the team to keep her in L.A. through 2029. Gisele joined the club in 2024, four days after her 18th birthday.

“I love L.A. and signing this new contract makes sense for me and my career,” Gisele Thompson said in a release. “Everyone at Angel City has been so supportive of me since I joined the club. My teammates are like family, the coaches and staff have my back, the fans are incredible. I love being able to play in front of my friends and family and I am excited that I am staying. I will do everything I can to bring championships to this city.”

Gisele Thompson has appeared in 29 games for ACFC, and currently leads the team in assists this season. She has garnered four caps with the USWNT, including logging 90 minutes in a friendly against Colombia back in April.

Angel City, which plays at BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles, is in its fourth season in the NWSL. The club‘s star-studded ownership group includes Disney CEO Bob Iger and actress Natalie Portman, among others.