Forward and fan favorite Midge Purce, whose two assists lifted NY/NJ Gotham FC to claim the 2023 NWSL championship title, will get a shot of redemption this season with Gotham after a knee injury forced her to miss most of last season.
Gotham shared the news of Purce’s newly signed one-year deal Wednesday morning by mimicking Michael Jordan’s iconic 1995 fax where he announced his return with two simple words: “I’m back.”
Purce will join the team this week in Marbella, Spain, for training camp. Gotham is set to return Feb. 15.
“I’m excited to continue my journey with Gotham FC,” Purce said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get back on the pitch to play with this team and for our incredible fans.”
Purce is coming off a season-ending ACL injury that marred her 2024 NWSL season and sidelined her for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This season will be Purce’s sixth season with Gotham. Her return will bolster the team’s offensive weaponry as the 29-year-old is known for her creative dribblings and accurate passing abilities.
She’ll be rejoining some of her U.S. Women’s National Team teammates Rose Lavelle and Ella Stevens and will also be playing alongside recently acquired Brazilian star Gabi Portilho.
“Midge brings a number of great qualities to our team, and her dynamism and experience are great additions to our talented attacking group,” Gotham general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West said in a statement. “We are very excited to welcome her back into the mix.”
Purce has scored 16 of her 25 career goals in her 46 games with Gotham.
She earned the NWSL Best XI honor in 2021 and holds several NY/NJ club records, including the most career game-winning goals (10). Six of those game winners were netted in 2021.
Purce was named the MVP of the 2023 NWSL Final after she became only the second player in league history to record two assists in the championship match.
