Seattle Reign FC has acquired Canadian international forward Adriana Leon from Sky Blue FC in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.
Leon, a 25-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada has eight career goals in 44 games with the Canadian national team. She represented her country at the 2015 FIFA World Cup, and helped Canada reach the quarterfinals. Her collegiate career includes a national championship in 2010 at the University of Notre Dame. Leon came off the bench as a freshman to score the lone goal in Notre Dame’s 1–0 victory over Stanford to clinch the championship. After her sophomore season, Leon transferred to the University of Florida, where she finished her NCAA career.
Leon started her NWSL career with the Boston Breakers in 2013 before being traded to the Chicago Red Stars. From 2013 to 2015 she played in 35 matches and netted three goals for Chicago. From there she was traded to the Western New York Flash, and also spent time with FC Zurich Frauen in the Swiss national league. Leon re-joined the Boston Breakers for the 2017 season and scored six goals over 24 matches. 2018 was her first year with Sky Blue FC.
This season, Leon has played in two matches and logged 33 minutes for Sky Blue FC. She now joins a powerful group of Seattle attackers with potent goal-scoring abilities.
“I’m excited to join Seattle Reign FC,” Leon said. “The group is very talented. I’m looking forward to bringing what I can to the group and improving the team.”
Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski spoke about Leon and what she brings to the second-place Seattle squad.
“We’re thrilled to add Adriana to the team,” Andonovski said. “She’s a strong player with a lot of experience in this league and with her national team. She’ll add another piece to our attack and make us a better team heading down the stretch. I can’t wait for her to join us.”
Seattle is one of four teams in the league with a positive goal differential. Reign FC heads into the second half of the season with 13 goals scored and eight goals allowed. The team is currently on 18 points, just behind North Carolina.
Leon says she’s ecstatic about joining a team with so much talent and knowledge, and contributing to a fearsome group of forwards.
“I bring a strong attacking presence,” Leon said. “I’m dynamic on the front line. I think the squad as a whole is very dynamic, which fits perfectly with my style of play. I’m looking forward to playing and learning around some world-class players.”
In addition to the deep roster of players, Leon is also elated about working with Andonovski and Reign FC’s coaching and medical staff.
“Vlatko, most importantly, is a good person,” Leon said. “He’s also a great coach, so I’m looking forward to working with him and the rest of the staff. They have a really good track record. I’m sure it’s going to be great.”
In addition to joining the team, the Canadian native is also moving West just in time for a Seattle summer. She says she hasn’t had enough time to see the city in her brief visits in the past, and is excited about her new home.
“Unfortunately, when you come for a weekend game you don’t really get to enjoy the city that much,” Leon shared. “I’ve heard really good things about Seattle. There are a lot of cool market places and coffee shops. The city is right on the water; it’s beautiful. I’m looking forward to exploring it.”
