A seasoned professional and a key figure for the United States, the defender joins the Club on a two-and-a-half year contract, making the switch to the FA Women’s Super League after four seasons with North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
Following in the footsteps of compatriots Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle, she becomes the third American international to join the team’s ranks this season.
Defender Dahlkemper, who started every game of the USWNT’s 2019 World Cup success, has penned a deal until the summer of 2023 and will wear the number 13 shirt.
Speaking about her move, she said: “I am so excited to join Manchester City. It’s a world class club full of incredible players and I can’t wait to get started.
“With all the talent in the FA WSL, I know that each game will present a new challenge and the opportunity to grow both as a player and as a person in England is going to be amazing, alongside having the chance to play Champions League football too.
“Sam [Mewis] and Rose [Lavelle] have been saying nothing but brilliant things about the Club and hearing them speak so highly about the facilities, the staff and the players as well as their experience of a new technical and tactical challenge is something that was really appealing to me.
“I just can’t wait to get over and help the team in whatever way I can and be successful on the field.”
Hailing from Menlo Park in Northern California, Dahlkemper played collegiately with the UCLA Bruins, where she helped secure the National Championship in 2013.
In 2014, she won the Honda Award for collegiate women’s soccer, representing the top players in the country reflecting athletic achievement, academic achievement and community involvement.
Following her departure from UCLA, she enjoyed a brief loan spell in Australia with Adelaide United before moving to Western New York Flash where she won the NWSL title in 2016.
Following the club’s sale in 2017, the centre-half became part of North Carolina Courage and played in every minute of their NWSL Shield victory before being named in the season’s NWSL Best XI and voted as the league’s Defender of the Year.
Whilst with the Sahlen’s Stadium outfit, the 27-year-old won back-to-back league titles and secured a hat-trick of Shield successes.
Internationally, Dahlkemper represented her country at various youth levels – even captaining their Under-17s side - before being handed her debut for the senior set-up in October 2016.
She has since won the 2018 and 2020 SheBelieves Cups, Tournament of Nations and 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and most recently in 2020, the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The centre-half also played the most minutes of any outfield player during her World Cup triumph, featuring in 622 of a possible 630 minutes as the Stars and Stripes lifted the prestigious trophy.
Reflecting on his latest recruit, Head Coach Gareth Taylor said: “We’re delighted to welcome Abby to Manchester City, another exciting addition to our squad.
“She is a very talented defender who has been successful both domestically and internationally - with her desire and hunger for victory, we know she’ll fit into our team ethos perfectly.
“We’re really looking forward to working with her over the coming seasons.”
Gavin Makel, Managing Director of Manchester City Women, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Abby to the Club, who brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the very top.
“Her record speaks for itself in terms of what she has achieved in the game, whilst her hard work and determination to improve are just two elements of the type of player and person she is.
“I’m thoroughly looking forward to seeing her join up with the rest of the team.”
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