Gotham FC reacquires forward Katie Stengel | OneFootball

On Thursday, NJ/NY Gotham FC reacquired forward Katie Stengel from WSL 2 side Crystal Palace F.C. for an undisclosed transfer fee. The Florida native had four goals and four assists in 20 league games for the South London side in the 2024/25 season, but that was not enough to prevent Palace from finishing bottom of the league and being relegated to the second division.

Stengel initially joined Gotham in July of 2023, initially on loan from Liverpool F.C. Women, before the club made the move permanent in September of that year. That season culminated with a championship for the NJ/NY side, in which Stengel played a huge role by scoring the winner away to Portland Thorns FC in extra time of the semifinals. She then departed Gotham in September of 2024 for Crystal Palace just prior to the playoffs.

Why did Gotham FC bring in another forward?

Many people expected the Bats to make a signing during this summer window, but that signing was expected to be a defender, not another forward. So, what is Gotham FC's reasoning for making this signing? It is a little more nuanced than it looks on the surface.

First, the team still has two open roster spots, so if they wanted to sign a defender, then they could easily do so. Second, it is not a coincidence that the press release mentions this contract runs through February 2026. Because Gotham won the 2025 CONCACAF W Champions Cup, they qualified for the 2026 FIFA Women's Champions Cup, a precursor to the larger Club World Cup in 2028. This tournament is scheduled to run in January 2026, during the NWSL offseason.

This also suggests that the club believes there's a real chance that Ella Stevens may leave in free agency, which would have left the club without a backup center-forward going into this tournament, which is something the club would not want. This way, Gotham will not only have a guaranteed backup to Esther González, but it'll be someone who knows the club, has been training with the club, and will be up to match sharpness, while any potential new signing at the time may need extra time to get match-ready.

It is also a good move for Stengel, who now has a real chance at more silverware, which she did not have with Crystal Palace. Plus, it leaves her free to sign with another NWSL or European club when her contract expires rather than being locked into a longer contract that would not have given her these freedoms. This not only seems to be a good move for Gotham in the short term, but Stengel as well.

Moreover, it seems like a more urgent move in the short term than originally expected. During his pre-match media availability on Thursday, head coach Juan Carlos Amorós confirmed that González is unavailable this weekend after taking the option of a few extra rest days following the Euros. Stevens is still out with an injury, too. He also confirmed that Stengel is available for selection against Chicago, and given the absences of the two above, do not be shocked if she ends up playing a significant portion of the match.