Kansas City Current sign 15-year-old Pfeiffer on three-year deal | OneFootball

Photo: Kansas City Current

Kansas City Current have signed 15-year-old forward Alex Pfeiffer on a three-year contract, beginning in January 2024.

Turning 16 next month, the United States youth international is the first player to join the club under the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism.

At 15 years and 338 days, Pfeiffer becomes the fourth-youngest player in the league’s history, following in the footsteps of Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) and Chloe Ricketts (Washington Spirit) in the past couple of years.

“I am unbelievably excited and blessed to say I’m playing for the KC Current!” said Pfeiffer. “Everything about this club is class, from the players to the facilities, to the coaching staff and ownership group; I can’t imagine a better place to start my professional career.”

“I’m eternally grateful to the Longs (owners Chris and Angie Long), Cami (general manager Camille Ashton) and (head coach/sporting director) Vlatko (Andonovski) for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get on the pitch with this team and help win some championships!”

Pfeiffer is the first player addition announced since last week’s appointment of recent U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski.

Andonovski, who led the club to consecutive NWSL Championships (2014 and 2015) in their original guise of FC Kansas City, said of the signing: “I am very excited that Alex will be joining our club. This is a great start for our plans to strengthen the pro-player pathway for this club and this region.

“Alex is someone who can be a great example for players everywhere and can help this club achieve our goals, both near and long-term.”

GM Camille Ashton added: “Alex is a tremendous talent we are so excited to bring to the Current. We believe she has the ability to impact this team for many years to come and are thrilled she chose to take this next step in her career to continue her development with us in KC.”

The Current finished 11th in the NWSL’s recent regular season, missing out on the play-offs by five points.

With NWSL play returning to Kansas City in 2021 after four years away, the team reached last season’s Championship game, losing 2-0 to Portland Thorns.