The Blues’ boss expects the 29-year-old to add another dimension to his side’s offensive play, when she completes her switch from Portland Thorns in January 2018.
Nadim arrives with a prolific goal record both in Europe with Fortuna Hjorring and across the Atlantic with Sky Blue FC and the Portland outfit, with whom she won the NWSL Shield last season.
A player Cushing reveals the Club has been tracking for some time, he is no doubt the Afghan-born forward will be a reliable source of goals in the FA Women’s Super League.
“We’re really pleased to add her,” he explained.
“We looked at her when she played for Fortuna, we kept track of her while she was at Portland and then we went over to the Euros to watch her and to meet her.
“Her physical attributes and her presence as a striker are really going to bring our team on and really improve us.
“We’ve said before we need to improve offensively and become a team that scores more goals, which is why we’re delighted to add Nadia because she’s consistently scored for every team she’s played in.”
Having fled Afghanistan as a 12-year-old, it was the sight of a local Danish outfit training near her refugee camp which first sparked Nadim’s interest in football.
Showcasing her goalscoring ability from her very first training session, she has gone on to forge a successful career, turning out 70 times for her adopted homeland.
In the States her ability was evident, netting seven times and adding three assists in six games during her debut season with Sky Blue FC, whilst last season she was the Thorns’ top scorer.
It’s an impressive CV, but Cushing acknowledges she brings much more than a precocious talent and as always, is pleased to have secured the services of a player whose character he feels is in keeping with the Club’s philosophy.
“We speak consistently about the type of person we want to bring in and that’s no different with this signing,” he added
“Nadia is a very bubbly character, somebody who loves the game and I think her story shows the desire and the real drive she has to succeed as a football player.
“That’s really important for us in addition to her skill level and her quality as a goalscoring striker.”
