Midfielders Bethune and Hutton Transfer to New NWSL Clubs in Record Deals

omidbasir- United States midfielder Croix Bethune has officially joined the Kansas City Current, while USWNT midfielder Claire Hutton has signed with Bay FC. Both transfers were announced on Wednesday and are notable for being separate seven-figure transactions.

Kansas City has agreed to pay the Washington Spirit a total of $1 million for Bethune, while Bay FC will compensate the Current with $1.1 million in a different deal.

Both players are emerging talents within the USWNT and have previously been associated with only one NWSL club. Bethune had requested a trade earlier this offseason, a move confirmed by multiple sources to ESPN. Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, all trades necessitate player consent.

These transfers represent the second and third highest intra-league deals in NWSL history, trailing only the record transaction from last year when Gotham FC acquired U.S. playmaker Jaedyn Shaw from the North Carolina Courage for $1.25 million.

For the transfer of Bethune, Kansas City will pay the Spirit $900,000 in intra-league transfer funds, along with $100,000 in allocation money, totaling $1 million.

“We are grateful to Croix for her contributions over the past two seasons,” stated Haley Carter, President of Soccer Operations. “After discussions regarding her desire to seek development opportunities in a different environment, we were able to structure a deal that honored her request while also securing significant value for our club, making it the third-highest intra-league transfer in NWSL history and a top ten mark globally.”

Bethune was selected third overall by the Spirit in the 2024 NWSL Draft. During that season, she tied the NWSL record for assists with ten before enduring a season-ending injury in late August. Despite missing the last two months, she was named Rookie of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and earned a spot on the league’s first XI.

She also had a remarkable year with the USWNT. After being named an alternate for the 2024 Olympic team, she made her Olympic debut during the group stage as part of the U.S. squad’s pursuit of a fifth Olympic gold medal. To date, she has seven caps for the USWNT and scored her first international goal in her most recent appearance, a 5-0 victory over Chile.

Bethune excels as an attacking midfielder, typically playing as a No. 10, and she contributed significantly to the Spirit’s consecutive NWSL Championship appearances last year.

On the other hand, Hutton made a remarkable impact as a defensive midfielder early in her career. She signed with Kansas City at the age of 18 before the 2024 season and started 19 games for the Current.

Last year, she played in 22 games, helping Kansas City secure the NWSL Shield in a historic season. Hutton also earned a spot on the league’s first XI.

“Claire is an important signing for us. She’s a top-quality player who is tight on the ball and possesses the mobility and physical presence to disrupt play,” commented head coach Emma Coates. “Despite her young age, she brings invaluable experience and a strong mentality, and we believe she has the potential to become one of the best midfielders globally.”

Hutton’s impressive form led to regular call-ups to the USWNT this year, where she has earned 13 caps and scored one goal. Recently, she donned the captain’s armband during part of the USWNT’s 6-0 victory over Paraguay, marking her first opportunity to lead the team.