HERRIMAN, UTAH Friday, January 5, 2024) – Utah Royals FC today signed MF Dana Foederer for the 2024/25 National Women’s Soccer League seasons from Netherlands-based club Fortuna Sittard for an undisclosed fee. The Dutch youth international – becomes the 17th player on the 2024 expansion Utah side’s roster, with the upcoming NWSL Draft occurring on Jan. 12 and players reporting to preseason between Jan. 22-29. The NWSL will kick off its 2024 campaign Saturday, March 16.
“I’m very very VERY excited to make this move, it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Foederer, on the eve of saying goodbye to Fortuna Sittard during its winter break in the Netherlands. “Coming to the NWSL and to the Utah Royals represents the perfect chance to improve myself as player and as a human being. Everything in the U.S. football scene is bigger and better; the Utah facilities and the Royals home stadium are the best in the world, and I cannot wait to get to know the fans and be a part of the community.
“Obviously I’ve spoken with (Head Coach Amy Rodriguez), and I have a really good feeling about the chance to play for her. I’ve watched her play for the USA, as a player her level was amazing – she is a winner, pure and simple, she knows what it takes to win and all of us on the team will buy in to her vision and do everything we can to find success. I am sure we will all do anything to win, everything to support each other and to make the community proud.
“I consider myself a technical player, and I expect to fit in very well to her vision for how we want to play. I like to keep possession of the ball, we won’t just kick and run, there are so many reasons this is the perfect move for me to come play for the Utah Royals.”
A native of four professional seasons in the Netherlands, Foederer scored four goals in 48 first-division professional games with PSV, Heerenveen and Fortuna Sittard, playing primarily as either a defensive or two-way midfielder. In her 28 appearances for the Dutch U17, U19 and U20 national sides, Foederer – born July 27, 2002 in Veldhoven – boasts seven goals in 28 appearances for the KNVB.
“As we sprint towards the preseason, all of us in Utah are elated to add Dana to the group,” said URFC Sporting Director Kelly Cousins. “Again, each of these pieces will soon form a team, an entity where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts for 2024 and beyond. Dana’s experience as a youth international and as a young professional have created this opportunity for her continued growth and development, and we will depend on her excitement, work rate and expertise as we grow and evolve, on and off the pitch.”
Utah Royals FC will see its players report to the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah, in late January, with the 2024 NWSL reg. season kicking off on March 16. Here’s Utah’s 17-player roster by position – along with each player’s 2023 side – as it currently stands ahead of the January 12 NWSL Draft:
- 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), Agnes Nybert (IK Uppsala – Sweden), Dana Foederer (Fortuna Sittard – Netherlands)
- FW: Hannah Betfort (Portland Thorns), Imani Dorsey (Gotham FC), Paige Monaghan (Racing Louisville), Ify Onumonu (Gotham FC), Cameron Tucker (Houston Dash)
The 2024 NWSL Draft, presented by Ally, will take place Friday, January 12 at 6 p.m. MT during the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. For the full list of draft rules and procedures, please click here.
Currently, Utah Royals FC’s 2024 draft picks (round / overall) are as follows:
1st Round – No. 1, No. 4 (KC)
2nd Round – No. 16, No. 20 (WAS), No. 21 (WAS), No. 26 (ORL)
3rd Round – No. 29, No. 33 (POR)
4th Round – No. 44
Live coverage of the 2024 NWSL Draft, presented by Ally, will be televised on ION from 6 to 8 p.m. MT. All rounds of the draft will be streamed on ION Plus. Viewers can find access to ION in their area by visiting https://iontelevision.com/find-us.
