Mandy Freeman is not going anywhere as Gotham FC player signs new contract | OneFootball

NJ/NY Gotham FC had nine free agents heading into 2025. The team already saw three players leave via free agency, including fan favorite Delanie Sheehan. Some were getting nervous because the NWSL has a new format for free agency. They are not used to players being able to leave and sign with another team.

However, it is still early in the offseason and it was only a matter of time before Gotham FC brought someone back or signed a new player. As such, the first move occurred on Thursday.

Mandy Freeman is back with Gotham FC

The club announced that Mandy Freeman has signed a new contract that will keep her with the Bats through 2026. This makes the defender the longest-serving player on Gotham, for she will enter her ninth season with the club.

She has appeared in 95 NWSL games, with most of her appearances coming in her first couple of seasons. Her playing career was somewhat derailed due to her Achilles tendon injury in 2019, which kept the player out for the entire season. Recently, Freeman has been considered more of a depth piece. She proved her value and illuminated she could still start at the end of 2024, playing her best football in the last couple of years.

More importantly, the long-term Gotham FC player can start anywhere along the backline. This makes her a great asset for Juan Carlos Amorós, for she can play as a center-back, left-back, and right-back. She also can score too, for she scored her first goal in the NWSL against Utah Royals FC.

While Freeman played well at the end of the past season, it does not mean she will start. Gotham will predominantly see Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett play as the center-backs, with Jess Carter slotting in when one of the two is not available. Then, Carter and Bruninha can play as the right-back while Jenna Nighswonger is still expected to be the everyday starter at left-back.

That is not to say Freeman cannot compete with her fellow defenders. She absolutely can! She can also be utilized for depth and rotation and be the one player the head coach uses when any of the main defenders are unavailable. Hence, this preseason will be vital for the defender. She has to pick up from the end of 2024 and do even more in 2025.

Bringing back Freeman was a great move by Gotham FC. The player deserves to continue her career with the Bats while the club has a versatile defender who might see more playing time next season.