Israeli national soccer team midfielder Talia Sommer made history on Monday by becoming the first Israeli player to join the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the premier women’s soccer league in the United States and one of the top leagues globally.
The 21-year-old, who began her career at Maccabi Tel Aviv and most recently played for Butler University in the NCAA, signed with Gotham FC, the reigning NWSL champions based in New Jersey. She joins a star-studded roster that includes some of the world's best players such as Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Ann-Katrin Berger, and Bruninha.
“I’m living a dream today—it’s an indescribable excitement,” said Sommer. “Since I can remember, I’ve dreamed of playing on the world’s biggest stage, and now that dream is coming true. I’m proud to be the first Israeli selected to play in the best league in the world, and I promise that every time I step onto the field, I’ll represent not just myself and my family, who always support me with love, but also my country and the flag I love so much.”
Sommer began playing soccer at age 4 in the youth teams of Maccabi Tel Aviv. After moving with her family to New York, she joined Manhattan Soccer Club. At 14, she returned to Israel to play for ASA Tel Aviv in the Women's Premier League, making her senior national team debut at just 16. At 18, she was designated an outstanding athlete during her IDF service and moved back to the U.S. to play college soccer while earning a degree in neuroscience and computer science.
Former Israel national team captain Oshrat Eni praised the achievement. “Talia is one of the most talented players ever to come out of Israel. We saw her brilliance from the moment she stepped onto a professional field at age 14. Her signing with the NWSL is an unprecedented milestone, a source of pride not only for Talya and her family but for the entire Israeli soccer community, especially women’s soccer.”
Sommer will begin official training with Gotham in January 2026, ahead of the NWSL season kickoff in March. She will also join the team for the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in London at the end of January, featuring the top clubs from around the globe.