Tuesday 1 August 2017 12:46, UK
Manchester City Women have completed the signing of two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd.
The US Women's national team captain joins City on a short-term deal from American side Houston Dash after reportedly turning down a number of offers for her services.
Lloyd will play for the FA Women's Super League 1 champions in the 2017 Spring Series, the FA Women's Cup and for the remainder of City's UEFA Women's Champions League campaign.
The 34-year-old will begin training with the squad in early March following the SheBelieves Cup in the United States, and is expected to feature in City's Champions League quarter final-tie with Danish side Fortuna Hjorring
"I'm incredibly excited to be joining Manchester City, a club which is leading the development of women's football both on and off the pitch," Lloyd said.
"Having played in the US throughout my career, the chance to fulfil a long held ambition to test myself in a new footballing environment, as well as playing in the Champions League, is something I am relishing.
"With the challenge of the Spring Series and the FA Women's Cup ahead of us too, I really can't wait to pull on my City shirt in front of our fans and make them proud."
City Women head coach, Nick Cushing, added: "We are a successful team but a young team too, having only entered the Women's Super League three years ago, so adding players to our squad with substantial experience is crucial to our development.
"Carli has had an incredible career and is recognised as one of the best in the world. There is much we can learn from her that will help us to improve as a team. We are all looking forward to working with her over the coming months".
Lloyd helped USA win back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and became the first player since England's Sir Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final in the 5-2 win at the 2015 tournament in Canada.
The midfielder made her US Women's National Team debut in 2005 and has since made 232 international appearances, scoring 96 goals.
Lloyd is the fourth USA international to move to Europe in recent months. In January, Alex Morgan moved to three-time Champions League winners Lyon, while Crystal Dunn and Heather O'Reilly joined Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.
Meanwhile, African Women's Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala has left Arsenal Ladies to join Chinese side Dalian Quanjian.
The Nigeria international - one of the stars of the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada - spent two years in England, joining Arsenal from Liverpool at the beginning of 2016.
On Tuesday, Chelsea Ladies made their fifth signing of the close season after completing a deal to sign versatile defender Deanna Cooper from FA WSL 2 side London Bees.
