Categories
Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride sign Scottish forward Claire Emslie

The Orlando Pride announced the club signed a new player on Thursday, but she’s not an immediate reinforcement for the struggling team. 

Scottish forward Claire Emslie will join the Pride after Scotland’s run in the 2019 Women’s World Cup pending receipt of her P1 visa, the club announced on Thursday. She joins the Pride after two seasons with English Women’s Super League side Manchester City Women, where she won the FA Women’s Continental League Cup Championship as well as the Women’s FA Cup. 

Emslie appeared in 31 matches for Manchester City Women and scored eight goals. 

“Claire is a player I have wanted to work with for a long time now,” said Pride coach Marc Skinner in a statement.

“She possesses many desirable talents that will only help improve the team. Her ability to effectively dribble, pass and shoot with both feet, means she will keep defenders guessing about her next move and will excite our fans. More importantly, Claire possesses a personality that will epitomize the hardworking culture we are working daily to create at the Pride. We can’t wait for Claire to join the family.”

Prior to playing for Manchester City Women, Emslie played for Bristol City in the WSL. She scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for Bristol City. She also played for Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., where she scored 29 goals to go with 10 assists in 76 career appearances. She started her professional career at 17 years old with Hibernian in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play pro soccer in the USA. My time at Florida Atlantic University fueled that dream and Orlando Pride was the club I always envisioned playing for,” Emslie said in a statement. “I left Florida three years ago as a college graduate determined to return one day as a professional soccer player and I can’t quite believe it has happened. I’m excited for the new challenge ahead and ready to work for it!”

Scotland opens its World Cup with a match against England in Group D on June 9. Emslie, 25, has appeared in 21 matches for Scotland and has scored three goals for her national team.