Portland Thorns FC Acquire Forward Jodie Taylor
Portland Thorns FC have acquired forward Jodie Taylor from the Washington Spirit in exchange for a 2015 second-round pick (No. 13 overall) and two second-round picks in 2016. The Thorns were extremely busy during the NWSL draft this past Friday in Philadelphia, PA.
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Before the Thorns traded for Taylor, they acquired the 13th overall selection in 2015 and a 2016 second-round pick from the Houston Dash in exchange for a player to be named later. That player to be named later turned out to be Jessica McDonald.
Taylor, 28 was one of the top goal scorers in the NWSL in 2014. She was a NWSL Second XI pick; Taylor recorded 11 goals and two assists during the regular season. She appeared in 21 matches, 19 starts, tallying four game-winning goals as she helped guide Washington to it’s first-ever appearance in the NWSL Playoffs.
Thorns FC head coach Paul Riley had this to say about Taylor:
"“We’ve been chasing Jodie for a while. She’s a proven goal scorer and a recognized forward. She’s dangerous and a good finisher, too. She’s one of the premier finishers in the league. I think with the quality players we have around her she’ll score more goals. We are really happy to get her.”"
Taylor played four seasons at Oregon State University from 2004-2007. A four-time first team all-conference selection, Taylor appeared in 78 career matches for the Beavers, recording 47 goals and 19 assists. Taylor currently holds OSU career records in points with 113, goals and game-winning goals (18).
Since she graduated college, she has played all over the world. She has played in Australia, England and Sweden. In 2010, she signed with the Melbourne Victory of the W-League, scoring 12 goals in 21 matches in three years with the club. Taylor, an England international has earned three caps with the England Women’s National Team, making her debut in an international friendly against Sweden in August 2014. Taylor returned to England to join Birmingham City in 2012, where she scored eight goals in 11 appearances and helped the team to the Women’s FA Cup title.
In 2013, Taylor made the move to the Damallsvenskan in Sweden to play for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, scoring 10 goals in as many matches. Before signing with the Spirit in 2014, Taylor returned to the W-League to play with Sydney FC and finished the season as the league’s top scorer with 12 goals.
I’m sure Taylor will be glad that she is back in the state that she played her college soccer. The Thorns have a dedicate fan base and she will surely enjoy playing in front of all those fans.
Position: Forward
Height: 5-4
Born: May 17, 1986, in Birkenhead, England
Hometown: Birkenhead, England
Last Club: Washington Spirit (NWSL)
College: Oregon State University
Citizenship: England
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