Katelin Talbert: “I’m really excited to help this team grow” | OneFootball

With exactly two weeks until the start of our 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, new signing Katelin Talbert is excited to get going in our colours after completing her loan move on Saturday.

The American-born shot-stopper joined us from West Ham United on a deal until the end of December, having spent last season at Swedish side Djurgardens IF, where she made 14 appearances in all competitions.

Katelin, 25, tasted success in her 18-month spell with Portuguese champions, Benfica, in 2022, winning consecutive Campeonato Nacional Feminino, the League Cup and the Portuguese Women’s Super Cup, but she is now ready to test herself in England’s top-flight.

“It feels great to be here, I felt immediately welcomed by everyone, all the staff and players, it has a great culture and environment here,” she told SPURSPLAY. “It’s really amazing facilities and I have just felt very welcomed since I have been here.

“The WSL is an extremely competitive league, something that I have wanted to be a part of for years now, so I’m really excited to develop as a player and help this team grow together.”

Born in Sacramento, California, it was no surprise when Katelin was asked about her footballing idol that she named former United States Women’s National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and World Cup winner, highlighting the impact she had on her style of play.

“I really liked watching Hope Solo play, she always flew around and made crazy saves, so I have always wanted to be like her,” she added.

“My parents put me into football at four years old and I never played another sport, it was just always football. You get on to the pitch, and you just feel like a sense of relief and just get into the zone, like you don’t really think about your outside life.”

Talking about her attributes as a goalkeeper, she explained: “I’m quite athletic, but also very aggressive, using my body, strength and height to my advantage.”

With the new campaign just around the corner, where we begin our WSL season at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday 22 September (2pm UK) – tickets still available to buy – Katelin pinpoints one fixture she is looking forward too.

“I’m really excited for the game against Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it will be an amazing experience to play at,” she said. “However, I’m also just looking forward to meeting you all [Lilywhite fanbase] and hearing you all cheer for us.”

Watch - First interview with Katelin