Desiree Scott has signed with Notts County of England's FAWSL. (Photo Copyright Canada Soccer)
Notts County Ladies of the FAWSL, England’s top flight, have signed Canada defensive midfielder Desiree Scott in a huge blow to FC Kansas City.
Scott was one of the best midfielders in the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season in 2013 and helped anchor a top-notch FC Kansas City midfield, widely considered the best in the league. She was one of Canada’s 16 allocated players, but she won’t be in 2014 after choosing to sign with Notts.
“Desiree is an extremely impressive footballer, and she’s shown this across many levels,” Notts County manager Rick Passmoor said. “Bringing her to Notts County shows our ambition, as well as hers. We continue to strive forward as a football team, a team which trains full time, and a team which has real intent to achieve in women’s football.”
Scott is expected to be released for all Canada national team camps, The Equalizer has learned.
UPDATE: Scott is said to still be under contract, according to sources. Scott’s agent, Chuck Vine, says Scott is not under contract with FC Kansas City or the NWSL. FC Kansas City officially has no comment on the situation. Scott and Lauren Sesselmann are listed as Canadian allocations for Kansas City. The Notts County press release says the signing is subject to international clearance, so this all could get interesting.
Almost every Canadian player earned less than $20,000 for NWSL play in 2013. The maximum salary for league play – not including national team supplements – even for U.S. players was $30,000.
Notts County, formerly known as Lincoln Ladies, just made a splash signing before Christmas by bringing in England striker Ellen White.
The deal, which was struck just before the New Year, as first reported by The Equalizer, comes as a huge blow to FC Kansas City as the Blues lose one of the league’s best midfielders. With the move, Scott becomes a rare Canadian player to venture outside of the NWSL. Emily Zurrer played with Seattle as a Canadian allocated player in 2013 but signed with Swedish Damallsvenskan club Jitex for 2014.
How can FC Kansas City adjust? They still have Jen Buczkowski, the other half of the two-headed defensive midfield monster of a wall for FC Kansas City. But with plenty of attacking midfield talent and the loss of Scott, FC Kansas City could be more offensive-minded and a little less defensively sound in 2014.
Scott has played 64 times for the senior Canadian team and won the 2012 Olympics bronze medal as well as a 2010 Pan Am Games gold medal.
