YAEL AVERBUCH TO PLAY WITH ARSENAL IN JAPAN
Averbuch will join the Arsenal Ladies next week before traveling to Japan for the IWCC.
PRAIRIE VILLAGE (November 21, 2024) – FC Kansas City’s recent signing for the 2024 NWSL season, Yael Averbuch, will be a part of English side Arsenal at the International Women’s Club Championship, which will be held in Japan from November 30th to December 6th before making the move to Kansas City.
The New York City native will be heading to London on Wednesday where she will join the Arsenal Ladies team coached by Pedro Martinez Losa, who recently joined the Gunners after spending the last two years as the Western New York Flash’s Assistant Coach.
“I spoke to Pedro [Martinez Losa] about possibly joining Arsenal for the season, but did not feel ready to make the move back overseas,” Averbuch said. “While contemplating the idea, he invited me to join the team as a guest player in the International Women’s Club Championship.”
The North Carolina graduate had the opportunity to sign with Arsenal in the Football Association Women’s Soccer League but instead preferred to sign with the reigning NWSL Champions.
“I eventually decided that it was important for me to stay and play in the NWSL and signed with FC Kansas City but Pedro gave me the opportunity to join them for the tournament in Japan.”
Founded in 1987, the Arsenal Ladies are the most successful club in English women’s soccer having won more than 40 major titles a UEFA Champions League championship.
“When I tell people who I’m going to play for, everyone automatically lights up when they hear the name Arsenal,” Averbuch said. “It is a club that has a lot of wonderful history on both the men’s and women’s side. I’ve always heard amazing things about the Arsenal Ladies team, so I’m really looking forward to joining the group and learning a lot from them.”
The Gunners will play against the winner of Australian team Melbourne Victory and the Japanese 2024 Nadeshiko League Series Champion in a one-legged semifinal on December 3 in Tokyo.
“I’ve always believed that the more training and game environments I can take part in, the better I will be able to become,” Averbuch said. “To play with different players, for a different coach, and in a new country against competition I have never seen are all wonderful learning experiences. I’m just trying to soak up everything I can on the field and adapt to whatever is asked of me.”
Averbuch will be back in the United States in time for the holidays and will continue to prepare for the upcoming season at home in the nation’s capital before making the move to Kansas City to join the Blues’ preseason in February before the 2024 NWSL season kicks off in March.
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