Arsenal captain Kim Little is headed back to OL Reign.
The player will join the NWSL on loan, kicking off on June 1 and run up just until the start of Arsenal’s 2022/23 WSL season on August 15 — giving her roughly three months with the Reign.
Little previously featured for the Reign from 2014 to 2016, where she managed 32 goals and 16 assists in 63 regular-season appearances. She led the Reign with 16 goals during the 2014 campaign, and subsequently earned the NWSL MVP title that year.
She also inspired the NWSL to earn back-to-back NWSL Shields in 2015 and 2016.
“Bringing Kim back to the PNW is huge. Kim will go down in history as one of the best players to ever play in the NWSL, and to have the chance to work with her again is exciting,” said OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey as the team announced the signing during halftime of their match against the San Diego Wave.
“I’d like to thank Arsenal for helping make this happen. This is a unique opportunity for us and one that we felt could be a huge impact on our squad in a crazy summer schedule. Kim’s ability and experience will be crucial for us to help continue to push our performances forward and help continue the growth of our young squad.”
An Arsenal statement read: “We can confirm that we have reached an agreement for Kim Little to join National Women’s Soccer League side OL Reign on a short-term loan deal this summer.
“Kim will join OL Reign on 1 June and return to Arsenal ahead of the start of pre-season on 15 August.
“Everybody at the club would like to wish Kim well during her short spell in America.”
In her last season with the Reign, Little was named BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year for her contributions to the NWSL side and the Scotland national team.
Now, she returns six years later to several familiar faces. She will play alongside midfielder Jess Fishlock, defender Lauren Barnes, and forward Megan Rapinoe once again, after the three were crucial during her original stint.
The Reign could use the reinforcement after struggling at the start of their 2022 league campaign. The team currently stands in seventh place on the table with seven points in six games.
