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NWSL Croix Bethune, seen here playing for the USWNT, had three goals and two assists for the Washington Spirit last season. Harry How / Getty Images Kansas City Current has signed U. S. women’s national team midfielder Croix Bethune, the club announced on Wednesday. The 24-year-old joins the reigning National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) shield winner from the Washington Spirit. Her contract with Kansas City runs through the 2027 season. In exchange, the Spirit will receive $1 million in transfer fees, which is the third-most expensive intra-league transfer in NWSL history and among the top 10 globally.  The acquisition fees include $100K in allocation funds and $900k in transfer funds. Advertisement “Thank you to the Washington Spirit for drafting me two years ago and giving me the opportunity to represent DC, ” Bethune said in a statement. “To the Spirit fanbase — you all are incredible and made my time playing at Audi Field even more special. I wish the club nothing but the best moving forward. ” The Spirit drafted Bethune with the third pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and quickly became a fan favorite. The midfielder scored five goals and had a league record 10 assists in her rookie season, when she was named both the league’s rookie and midfielder of the year despite missing the end of the season with a knee injury. After she returned from injury in 2025, Bethune picked up three goals and two assists as she helped the Spirit to a second consecutive second-place finish in the standings and a runner-up spot in the NWSL Championship. “We are grateful to Croix for her contributions over the past two seasons, ” Spirit President of Soccer Operations Haley Carter said in a statement. “After conversations about her desire to explore development opportunities in a different environment, we were able to structure a deal that honored her request while securing significant value for our club. … We evaluate every situation on its individual merits, and in this case, the alignment of player goals and organizational value made sense for all parties. That said, our focus is on the talented core we have returning. We’re heading into 2026 healthy, deep and ready to win. ” Earlier on Wednesday, the Current transferred fellow USWNT midfielder Claire Hutton for $1. 1 million to Bay FC. Among Bethune’s many exceptional qualities — her delicate touch, command of the ball and multidimensional vision, to name a few — she is in the rare class of midfielders who can not only adjust to the styles and preferences of her teammates, but also elevate them further. Consider what that means for Bethune’s new colleagues and vice versa, particularly two-time NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga. That partnership should incite goosebumps among Current supporters and everyone else in the league — for very different reasons. Advertisement From the Current’s perspective, this move must also be processed in the context of another midfielder-related announcement from Wednesday: the departure of Hutton, who joined Bay FC on a $1. 1 million intra-league transfer fee. This is not at all a like-for-like swap. Bethune plays the No. 10 while Claire occupies the No. 8, or double-pivot role, in a more defensive capacity. Nonetheless, by bringing on Bethune, the Current have softened the blow of Hutton’s departure by fortifying their midfield with a generational playmaker. “I feel like last year, coming off that injury, I did well, getting my feet back and playing well as a midfielder, and just the game of soccer, ” Bethune said last month during NWSL’s media day. “And now trying to add in my stats, again, with the goals and assists, because that’s what I felt was missing. ” The partnership with Chawinga just might giver her that last piece of the puzzle. — Tamerra Griffin, women’s soccer writer Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle