Utah Royals add Nigerian international Ify Onumonu from reigning champs Gotham FC
The 29-year-old NWSL veteran signs with the Utah side under contract through the 2024 and 2025 seasons, in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money.
Utah Royals FC started out its rebirth building from the back, but it’s adding plenty of attacking talent now.
The club announced the addition of Nigerian international forward Ifeoma “Ify” Onumonu on Saturday, sending Gotham FC $40,000 for the NWSL veteran signed through the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The 29-year-old native of Rancho Cucamonga, California who played collegiately at Cal has been with the reigning NWSL champions since 2020, when she was acquired via trade from OL Reign. In two seasons in New York/New Jersey, Onumonu scored 10 goals with six assists in 40 appearances, including 35 starts and totaling close to 3,000 minutes.
The 5-foot-10 striker also helped the Super Falcons to the Round of 16 at the most recent Women’s World Cup in 2023, angling Nigeria to a date with eventual runner-up England.
Now she heads to Utah, where Onumonu will be coached by former star U.S. striker Amy Rodriguez as the 15th player signed in the Royals’ relaunched history.
“This is an amazing opportunity to be coached by one of the best who ever did it, tapping into Amy Rodriguez’ history with the NWSL and her being a former No. 9,” said Onumonu, who also previously played with soon-to-be Utah teammates Imani Dorsey, Mandy Haught and Paige Monaghan. “Having the conversation with Amy and (sporting director Kelly Cousins) was incredibly important to me, hearing their vision and understanding the commitment to and investment in providing the best for the athletes is what persuaded me to play for the Royals.”
Onumonu’s early conversations with the club also revealed a few things about the Royals’ attempted style of play ahead of their inaugural season as an expansion club in 2024, and a targeted role for the former No. 8 overall pick by the Boston Breakers in the 2017 NWSL draft.
“Amy mentioned that we will look to mix some of what Man City and Bayern Munich try to do — keep the ball, if you lose it, get it back as quickly as possible,” Onumonu said. “This is what interests me — at this point in my career, I want to play with the ball and not run around mindlessly or get caught in kick-and-run. This whole project intrigues me, as I’m always looking to learn more — what better way to learn than to try to emulate a style of play and model ourselves after the best in the world.”
The Royals will report to training camp Jan. 22-29 ahead of the 2024 season opener March 16.
Here’s a look at the club’s current roster after Saturday’s signing:
• GK: Mandy Haught (Gotham FC), Carly Nelson (Orlando Pride)
• DF: Kaleigh Riehl (San Diego Wave), Madison Pogarch (San Diego Wave), Kate Del Fava (KC Current), Addisyn Merrick (KC Current)
• MF: Mikayla Cluff (Orlando Pride), Michele Vasconcelos (Portland Thorns), Emily Gray (North Carolina Courage), Frankie Tagliaferri (North Carolina Courage)
• FW: Hannah Betfort (Portland Thorns), Imani Dorsey (Gotham FC), Paige Monaghan (Racing Louisville), Ify Onumonu (Gotham FC), Cameron Tucker (Houston Dash)