NJ/NY Gotham FC and forward Esther González have mutually agreed to terminate her contract, the club announced Monday. González, the team's most prolific scorer during its title-winning era, is returning to her native Spain to attend to personal matters.
"This journey has surpassed every expectation I had when I first came to Gotham," González said in a statement. "Together we achieved everything there is to achieve, and I will forever be proud to say that with this club, I won it all."
González, 33, joined Gotham late in the 2023 season and was instrumental in leading the team to its first NWSL championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the final. She was an MVP finalist in the 2025 season, notching 13 regular-season goals and helping Gotham secure a second NWSL crown. During her tenure, she also contributed to the team winning a Concacaf W Champions Cup and an NWSL Challenge Cup.
She scored four goals in her final three games this season, as Gotham surged to second place in the NWSL standings. González's contract was set to run through the 2027 NWSL season.
"Esther has been a model professional on and off the field, helping us win four major trophies and serving as a respected leader in our team," said Yael Averbuch West, president of soccer operations for Gotham FC. "We thank her for three great years full of world-class moments of brilliance."
The departure places additional focus on striker Sam Kerr, who recently rejoined Gotham and plays the same forward position. Kerr scored in Gotham's recent 2-2 draw in Portland, a match also marked by Emily Sonnett's exit due to a knee injury.
González is also a key player for the Spanish national team, considered a co-favorite for the upcoming World Cup alongside the United States. She ranks as Gotham FC's all-time leading scorer with 33 goals across all NWSL competitions.