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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
Defending NWSL champions Gotham FC are close to finalizing a deal to acquire veteran midfielder Denise O’Sullivan on loan, with an obligation to buy from Liverpool, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
O’Sullivan is expected to join Gotham immediately when the NWSL transfer window opens on Monday, making her eligible for the match on Wednesday at Citi Field in Queens against the Washington Spirit, a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship.
However, the agreement between the Clubs still requires signatures. Gotham would ultimately pay Liverpool €350,000, the same fee Liverpool paid to the North Carolina Courage in January to sign O’Sullivan.
This transfer would initially see O’Sullivan join Gotham on a one-year loan, with an obligation to purchase her contract following the season, according to the source.
Her contract would extend through the 2029 NWSL season, with an option for 2030.
The structure of O’Sullivan’s loan deal helps Gotham manage its finances, especially after signing all-time NWSL top scorer Sam Kerr on a free transfer from Chelsea.
Gotham utilized allocation money to ease Kerr’s salary demands and also recently re-signed defender Emily Sonnett via the NWSL’s new High Impact Player rule, reducing Sonnett’s salary cap impact.
Despite these strategies, Gotham is operating at the maximum salary cap threshold, plus an additional $1 million in HIP funds.
Bringing in a player on loan assists in lessening the salary cap hit.
O’Sullivan, 32, boasts extensive experience in the NWSL, having won five major titles with the North Carolina Courage.
She played a crucial role in the Courage’s dominance, contributing to double victories (NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship) in both 2018 and 2019.
The Courage also secured the 2017 NWSL Shield and the 2018 International Champions Cup, where they triumphed over Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon.
O’Sullivan’s return to the NWSL follows her recent transfer from the Courage to Liverpool in January.
At that time, she expressed her enthusiasm for joining a prominent club like Liverpool and being closer to family in Ireland.
However, O’Sullivan’s experience at Liverpool was challenging, as the team struggled throughout the season.
Liverpool narrowly avoided relegation in the Women’s Super League, finishing one spot above the bottom with four victories and accumulating only 17 points over 22 matches.
O’Sullivan’s January transfer marked the end of her near-decade-long tenure with the Courage, where she holds the record for the most appearances with 186 across all competitions.
She contributed to the Courage’s success, winning NWSL Challenge Cup titles in both 2022 and 2023 and took over as captain in 2023.
Notably, O’Sullivan was acquired by the Courage off waivers in the summer of 2017, following her release by the Houston Dash.
Before her time with Houston, O’Sullivan had a successful stint at Glasgow City in Scotland.
She is the active player with the most international caps for Ireland and occasionally captains the national team.
O’Sullivan was part of the Irish squad that made its Women’s World Cup debut in 2023.