Married to the game, engaged to the goalkeeper.
On Monday, NJ/NY Gotham FC acquired five-time Women’s Soccer League champion Jess Carter from Chelsea FC Women for an undisclosed fee, reuniting the club with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who signed with Gotham in April. Berger is also Carter’s fiancée.
Carter’s contract runs through 2026, meaning he will be eligible to play after August 1.
“I can’t wait to join Gotham FC,” Carter said in the team’s announcement. “The club is currently playing at an incredible level in one of the toughest leagues in the world and I can’t wait to be a part of it all.”
Carter, a native of England, played for the Blues for six years, playing opposite Berger, who signed with Gotham in April, a month before the couple got engaged.
In the 2023-24 season, Carter played 21 games and was a pioneer for Chelsea, helping his former club win five consecutive WSL titles.
“Jess is one of the best players in the world,” Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said in a statement. “We are excited to have Jess join Gotham FC. She will really thrive in our style of football and we believe our fans will enjoy her style of play.”
In addition to his impressive résumé, Carter also demonstrated his ability to remain calm under pressure, completing an incredible 88 percent of his passes, and was a force to be reckoned with in the backline, leading the team in clearances (57) and blocks (6).
“Jess is a world-class player with great experience at both club and international level,” said Gotham FC General Manager Yael Abelbourgh West. “We are excited to have her join the existing high-level competition in our environment.”
Carter’s success has also spilled over to international level, where he has made 36 appearances since his debut in 2017.
She was a key player for the 2023 FIFA World Cup national team, which lost 0-1 to Spain in the final. Carter played in six matches.
She comes to Gotham ready to embrace what the team has to offer.
“Gotham also shares the same values as me,” Carter said. Equalizer“My biggest value is how I treat people and how I treat my team. I think being surrounded by people who treat others well and really care about each other as people before they’re soccer players makes me a really good soccer player. That’s the most important thing.”
