Netherlands international, Esmee Brugts, has joined Barcelona on a free transfer deal following the expiration of her contract at PSV Eindhoven.
Brugts, who impressed at the just-concluded 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, signed a four-year contract with the Catalan club and becomes their second signing of the summer following the arrival of Ona Batlle from Manchester United.
“It’s a dream come true,” Brugts said. “I played here two years ago [in the Champions League] with PSV and now it is such a proud moment to realise I am joining this club. I am so happy and proud of myself.
“It has always been my dream club, it has been in the family. The history they have and, of course, with how they perform over the last years, they are the best in Europe, in the world in my eyes.
“They [won the Champions League] twice in the last three years, it’s insane, it’s not normal. Hopefully we can win a lot more trophies. I would like to experience that,” Brugts said, according to africa.espn.com.
Brugts joined Barca on the back of an impressive World Cup with the Netherlands, who lost to a Spain side featuring several of her new teammates in the quarterfinal. She scored two brilliant goals in the group-stage win over Vietnam, as well as netting the goal that booked her country’s place at the finals.
The versatile midfielder, who can also play further forward, leaves PSV after three seasons with the club, having previously developed at SV Heinenoord and FC Binnenmaas.
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