Former Gotham FC forward Esther González has signed with Al Qadsiah of the Saudi Women’s Premier League, a move that surprised many given her recent departure from the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club to "attend to personal matters in Spain." González joined the Saudi team less than a month after her contract with Gotham FC was mutually terminated in July.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that Gotham FC’s official messaging, which wished González and her family well, implied an expectation that she would not be playing professionally for some time. The swift signing with a new club has thus generated surprise.
González joined Gotham FC in 2023 following Spain's World Cup victory. During her tenure, she was instrumental in the club winning two NWSL titles and the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup in 2025. She scored the winning goal in the 2023 NWSL final and was a finalist for the 2025 NWSL MVP award, tallying 13 goals during the 2025 regular season. At the time of her departure, her contract with Gotham FC was set to run through the 2027 NWSL season.
Gotham FC's president of soccer operations, Yael Averbuch West, had described González as a "model professional on and off the field" in a statement released last month. González herself had stated that Gotham FC would "always hold a very special place in my heart."
The club has not issued a public statement regarding González's new team. Gotham FC was scheduled to play on Sunday in Los Angeles.