The 2018 offseason has just begun, and already the Seattle Reign FC have announced their first signing of the offseason, Australian-international midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight.
The announcement comes just hours after the Reign announced Jess Fishlock’s loan to Olympique Lyonnais for the first part of the 2019 NWSL season.
“We’re excited to have Elise on the team. We’ve been working a long time to find a way to bring her to the club,” said Seattle Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski in the team’s official statement. “She’s a very talented player who will add another dimension to our midfield. We can’t wait to get started and see Elise on the pitch.”
Andonovski’s quote references the team’s attempt to sign Kellond-Knight, or KK as she is often called, to Seattle’s roster for the 2018 season, but a pre-existing discovery claim by the North Carolina Courage and confusion surrounding the NWSL’s discovery process prevented them from doing so.
As a result, Kellond-Knight signed with Hammarby in the Damallsvenskan, Sweden’s top-flight league, where she will continue playing through the end of their season.
“I’m so happy to have finally come to an agreement with the NWSL to join Seattle Reign FC in the upcoming 2019 NWSL season,” said Kellond-Knight. “They are a class team who play a style of football that I can see myself enjoying.”
Following the conclusion of her time with Hammarby and ahead of the 2019 NWSL season, Kellond-Knight will return to Australia to play for the three-time reigning champions, Melbourne City, in the W-League.
