Ryan Campbell is the newest Gotham FC goalkeeper and is an interesting move | OneFootball

NJ/NY Gotham FC continues to build for 2025 as some players have left the club while new ones have joined. From international stars like Gabi Portilho, to college players like Lilly Reale, the Bats are trying to replace those who have left the club or were traded.

There were many positions that Gotham needed to increase the depth or possibly bring in a starter. However, it was assumed that the team was done with the goalkeeper position, for they had Ann-Katrin Berger, recently acquired Shelby Hogan, and Abby Smith. At this time, it is assumed Michelle Betos will not return to the club.

Gotham FC signed another goalkeeper

Alas, Gotham FC announced on Friday that they signed another UCLA player: goalkeeper Ryan Campbell. Her contract is for one year and there are no options. Campbell joins fellow UCLA player Reale and is the third signing from the Big Ten. She spent just one year with the Bruins, for she spent her first four collegiate seasons with Stanford University, not playing her freshman year.

This past season, Campbell helped lead UCLA to a Big Ten Championship in their first year in the conference. She led the NCAA with 16 clean sheets and allowed only ten goals. She also had a superb 2023 season with Stanford, for she was named the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year.

The goalkeeper's success at both schools are reasons enough to as to why she deserves a chance in the NWSL. Gotham FC is a great team for her too. She can learn under Berger and utilize the year to develop into a professional.

At the same time, the NJ/NY side now has four goalkeepers on the roster again, making the addition of Campbell an interesting one. They carried four in 2024, but that could have been because of Smith's injury. Normally, three keepers are kept on most professional teams. Plus, Betos was expected to play more of a veteran role, as she did. But for 2025, Hogan and Smith could easily be the backup goalkeeper to Berger and could start elsewhere.

As such, it is easy to wonder whether Smith will be on her way out since Hogan and Campbell are new. Campbell, as a rookie, can easily be the third-string keeper. Smith proved she was a starter before her injury and would be starting for Gotham if the team never brought in Berger. She spent some time as a backup in her career, but she might want to start again.

Still, Gotham FC might want four goalkeepers on the roster again. Adding Campbell on a one-year deal is not a bad move by any means.