Gotham FC and veteran forward Esther González agreed to a mutual contract termination on Monday.
The 33-year-old Spanish international will temporarily step away from soccer to attend to personal matters in Spain.
Yael Averbuch West Thanks González for Her Key Contributions
“We wish Esther and her family all the best as they return home to Spain,” Gotham FC president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West said in a statement. “Esther has been a model professional on and off the field, helping us win four major trophies and serving as a respected leader in our team.
“We thank her for three great years full of world-class moments of brilliance. We will always support Esther wherever her path leads.”
González missed Friday’s 2-2 draw in Portland as she was excused from the team.
Esther Exits as Gotham FC’s All-Time Leading Scorer
The 5-foot-3 striker departs Gotham FC as the all-time leading scorer in club history, having scored 33 goals across all NWSL competitions. Her nine braces as a member of Gotham FC are tied with Megan Rapinoe (nine with OL Reign) for the most two-goal games at a single NWSL club.
She was twice selected to the NWSL Best XI and was a finalist for the 2025 NWSL MVP. The goal-getting forward helped Gotham capture two NWSL championships, one Concacaf W Champions Cup, and, most recently, the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup, where she netted a 37th-minute penalty in a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current.
González: ‘I Will Forever Be Proud To Say That With This Club, I Won It All’
“Gotham FC will always hold a very special place in my heart,” González said. “From the moment I arrived, I felt something unique about this club — the people, the environment, the way everyone works together every single day. I am grateful for each and every moment shared with my teammates, the coaches and every single member of this club.
“This journey has surpassed every expectation I had when I first came to Gotham. Together, we achieved everything there is to achieve, and I will forever be proud to say that with this club, I won it all. But beyond the trophies, Gotham is the place where I grew in so many ways — as a player, as a professional and, most importantly, as a person. And it is here, in New Jersey, where my family grew, too.
“I carry so many incredible memories with me, but I know that every time I think of this club, I will do so with a smile on my face. Thank you, Gotham, for everything.”
When González is ready to return to the pitch, it is likely that she will resume her career in Spain’s Liga F. She previously played for Levante, Málaga, Sporting de Huelva, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid.
Esther will be remembered as a Gotham legend, given her goal-scoring prowess and her important contributions to trophy-lifting victories.
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