The Washington Spirit is signing Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos to the team on a three-year deal, according to sources briefed on the transfer.
Santos currently plays for Atlético Madrid in Liga F. The 27-year-old has scored six goals and added three assists through 15 league appearances so far this season for her club. She will join the Spirit upon the conclusion of the current Liga F season in June.
A spokesperson for the Spirit declined to comment on Thursday.
Santos made her mark last summer at the 2023 Women’s World Cup with a stunning goal against tournament runner-up England in their quarterfinal match. England eventually went on to win 2-1 and advance to the semifinals.
Santos missed out on the recent CONCACAF W Gold Cup with Colombia due to an injury but returned to the pitch with Atlético Madrid this month during the team’s Copa de la Reina match against Real Sociedad.
Santos is yet another major international signing to arrive in the NWSL, following a very busy offseason of moves across the league. She’s also not the first player to join from Liga F. Bay FC’s signed forwards Asisat Oshoala from Barcelona and Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF before the start of the season. The Spirit faces Bay FC at Audi Field on Saturday.
The Spirit opened its season on the road in Seattle, dropping its first game of the 2024 season to the Reign 1-0. The Spirit did, however, successfully appeal the red card issued to starting goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury in that match. On Thursday, the NWSL announced that all disciplinary actions have been rescinded and Kingsbury has been cleared to play in the Spirit’s next match.
Washington is also awaiting the arrival of its next head coach upon the conclusion of the Liga F season, as Jonatan Giráldez of Barcelona wraps up his time in Spain as well. In the meantime, Adrián González (formerly head coach of RCD Espanyol’s women’s team) is serving as interim. The two coaches are in regular contact and González will transition to an assistant role upon Giráldez’s arrival.
(Photo: Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
