Norwegian star Guro Reiten is ready to make her mark on the NWSL with Gotham FC after she spent seven seasons helping Chelsea F.C. Women accumulate an impressive silverware haul.
The 31-year-old winger joined Gotham FC on March 12 after winning an incredible 13 major trophies with Chelsea including six consecutive WSL titles after joining the Blues in 2019.
“I play for the club, I play for the fans,” Reiten said during Wednesday’s press conference. “I feel like we’re on the same mission. At Chelsea, I had a really good relationship [with] the fans. I want to try and build that here as well. I’m excited to meet our fans and play for them.”
Visa issues delayed Reiten’s arrival at Gotham but her abilities on the pitch will be worth the wait. It also took some convincing from Gotham FC general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West.
Averbuch West Explains Gotham FC Recruitment Process
Once Reiten’s contract was nearing expiry, Averbuch West began initial discussions about the possibility of joining Gotham. As soon as the rules allowed her, she immediately began the recruitment process.
“We had some early conversations, some early virtual conversations,” Averbuch West said following Reiten’s introduction to the media. “A lot of conversations with [the] agent. It usually works where we have a lot of talk with [the] agent and they’re kind of understanding opportunities and shielding the player from initial outreach.”
An important step in negotiations came during late January and early February during the 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in London. Gotham were unable to come home with the trophy but they eventually persuaded Reiten to sign on the dotted line.
“While we were in London, we did have the opportunity to meet with Guro and her agent live,” Averbuch West recalled. “Which was a really important moment for us in a time where we could sit down and spend a lot of time. Even after that, [we had] multiple conversations.
“We got to virtually meet her lovely family as well. A huge important part is getting to know her. [There was] months and layers of conversations in getting to know her and expressing our interest and understanding the likelihood of her coming as we’re assessing what’s possible. [There were] a lot of steps ahead of us executing a deal.”
Why Reiten Chose Gotham FC
Reiten was impressed by Gotham’s ambition and the challenge brought by competing in a different league in the NWSL.
“It’s always a tough choice deciding your future,” she explained. “But when I talked to Gotham, I liked the way they wanted to play football, the environment. The club had ambitions. It looked like a challenge that I really wanted to try.”
Reiten joined Gotham on an initial loan deal through July and has already agreed to terms on a contract extension with the Bats that runs through 2029.
The creative winger recorded 59 goals and 44 assists across 207 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea.
Soon, Gotham supporters will be able to see her grace the pitch in a No. 18 jersey. It’s possible that head coach Juan Carlos Amorós could hand Reiten her debut for the club this weekend when Gotham welcomes Bay FC to Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday.
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