NJ/NY Gotham FC winger Guro Reiten is scheduled to make her professional debut in the United States as a starter against Bay FC on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The 31-year-old Norwegian international joins the defending champions at Sports Illustrated Stadium following a successful seven-year tenure with Chelsea.
The addition of Reiten comes as Gotham FC struggles with a 1-2-2 record, leaving the team in 13th place out of 16 teams in the NWSL. According to onefootball.com, the club has managed only two goals across its opening five matches of the 2026 campaign.
Reiten signed a three-year contract after winning 13 trophies in England, including a Women’s Super League title every year since 2019. The move was finalized after the club utilized High Impact Player funds, allowing them to exceed the standard salary cap by $1 million starting July 1.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” tells Reiten, Gotham FC Winger, to The Athletic. “I got some incredible memories (at Chelsea), but I felt like it was now or never, because I want to go somewhere where I can play at my best level.”
General Manager Yael Averbuch West confirmed that the club actively recruited the winger during a trip to London in January. The front office presented detailed plans to convince the veteran player to relocate her family, including her 5-month-old son, to New Jersey.
“I normally go to different clubs and spend a lot of time there, so, hopefully, I’ve got a few more good years in me,” says Reiten, Gotham FC Winger.
Averbuch West highlighted Reiten’s technical intelligence as a primary reason for the signing. The club aimed to integrate her quickly to address offensive deficiencies and recent injuries to the defensive unit.
“We’re always looking for players at Gotham who can fit into our style, in terms of a very intelligent player with a really high football IQ and technical ability,” says Averbuch West, General Manager.
The transition required Reiten to return to Norway for visa processing before arriving in the United States just days before the match. She participated in UEFA World Cup qualifiers for her national team immediately prior to joining her new club.
“We talked to her a number of times to try to convince her why she should consider moving her family across the world. … (She) is at a stage of her career where she is experienced, but also still looking to improve her game, which is the most important thing to us at the end of the day — that players are still hungry for more, and she very much is,” says Averbuch West, General Manager.
During her introductory press conference on Wednesday, Reiten expressed her commitment to the New Jersey-based franchise. She noted that the club’s professional vision was a deciding factor in her transfer.
“I played with my heart for Chelsea, and I’m gonna play with my heart for Gotham,” says Reiten, Gotham FC Winger.
The winger also mentioned her desire to contribute to the team’s scoring output following their sluggish start to the season. Gotham has not secured a victory since their season opener against Boston Legacy.
“Hopefully I can help the team create chances and score goals and (we can) create great memories together,” says Reiten, Gotham FC Winger.
According to the official lineup released on April 25, Reiten will be joined by captain Tierna Davidson, who returns for her first start since a knee injury. The defensive unit remains shorthanded with Lilly Reale, Emily Sonnett, Bruninha, and Mandy Freeman all sidelined due to injuries.
“From then on,” says Reiten, Gotham FC Winger, regarding the club’s presentation, “I knew that this was the place that I wanted to go to.”
The match against Bay FC is designated as Girls in Sports Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET with national television coverage provided by CBS.