The North Carolina Courage have made a mid-season acquisition to bolster their midfield.
Erica Meg Parkinson has signed with the NWSL club based in Cary, North Carolina on a multi-year deal through 2029, with a club option for 2030. No financial details of the contract were publicly disclosed.
Parkinson, a budding prospect for England’s national team, will use an international roster spot and will be eligible to play when the league’s secondary transfer window opens on July 14. She began training with the team this week at WakeMed Soccer Park.
“From my first conversations with the club, it was clear that this was a place that aligned with what I want both on and off the field. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the culture here,” Parkinson said in a statement. “The Courage have an exciting style of play that I can’t wait to add to. I couldn’t be more excited to sign here and take this next step in my career.”
The 18-year-old has been playing professionally for four seasons. Parkinson — who was born in Singapore to a Japanese father and English mother, then moved to Portugal when she was 10 years old — had her choice among which national teams to join, but sided with the Lionesses and received her first call-up to the senior team earlier this year for World Cup qualifying games.
Since she hasn’t yet been capped for England, Parkinson could still opt to play for Japan, Singapore or Portugal on the senior international level.
“She’s a very dynamic attacking midfielder and wants to go forward,” Sarina Wiegman, manager of the England national team, told ESPN. “She’s very aggressive and pretty technical. Of course it’s a big step from the Under-23s and the Portuguese competition to go into our senior level.
In 38 appearances for England’s youth national teams, Parkinson has netted nine goals. In the past three seasons for Valadares Gaia in Portugal’s top division, she’s notched eight goals and seven assists in 52 matches.
Under first-year head coach Mak Lind, the Courage are 5-3-3 this season, good enough for seventh in the NWSL standings. Ashley Sanchez leads the club with seven goals, while Japanese midfielder Manaka Matsukubo has five goals and four assists.
“Erica is one of the most exciting young midfield talents in world football, combining outstanding technical quality with an exceptional mentality and a relentless desire to improve,” Courage Chief Soccer Officer Ceri Bowley said in a statement. “What impressed us most throughout our recruitment process wasn’t just her ability on the ball, but her courage to play forward, her intelligence between the lines, and the intensity she brings in every phase of the game. Despite her age, she demonstrates maturity beyond her years and has consistently shown she can influence matches at both ends of the pitch.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: England national team prospect signs with NC Courage of NWSL
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