Gotham FC has secured a significant long-term commitment from midfielder Rose Lavelle, re-signing the 31-year-old U.S. Women's National Team star through the 2029 season. The move ensures Lavelle will be with the club as it transitions to its new urban home in Queens for the 2028 season. Lavelle's current contract was set to expire at the end of the current season.
Multiple teams reportedly made aggressive offers for Lavelle, a World Cup and Olympic champion, but she has opted to stay with Gotham FC. The club is preparing to relocate to Etihad Park, a new soccer-specific stadium being constructed across the street from Citi Field. To accommodate Lavelle's salary on the new three-year deal, Gotham FC is expected to utilize the National Women's Soccer League's High Impact Player rule. This mechanism allows teams to exceed the league's salary cap by up to $1 million in 2026, with that figure expected to rise in subsequent years, to pay top-tier players based on specific performance and off-field criteria.
Gotham FC president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West had previously indicated the team's strong desire to re-sign Lavelle, stating in July that they were "working every day" on the roster and Lavelle's contract.
Lavelle joined Gotham FC in 2024 and scored the game-winning goal in the 2025 championship game. This season, she has recorded four goals in 19 appearances. Lavelle recently missed a match against Portland due to a head injury and remained in concussion protocol ahead of a road game in Denver. Despite this, Gotham FC has been in strong form, currently leading the NWSL standings with an unbeaten streak of 10 matches.