The Liga MX Femenil star looked set for a move to Europe but is now heading for the NWSL as the most expensive player in the history of the women’s gameWhile 2024 for the United States women’s national team will be remembered for Olympic gold, there was a moment before that glory, before Emma Hayes and even before victory at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, when there was concern among American fans that their woes from 2023, which included a worst-ever performance at the Women’s World Cup, would continue into the New Year. That moment came in a 2-0 defeat to Mexico at the Gold Cup, one Lizbeth Ovalle, with her cool and composed finish, kickstarted.Ovalle won’t have been a new name for fans of the U.S, who experienced plenty of joy and triumph after that February loss. The winger has come up against the four-time world champion plenty of times in CONCACAF competition and has continued to make her mark on the continent in club competition this past year, with some top performances in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and CONCACAF W Champions Cup. Now, having looked primed to introduce herself to a whole new audience in Europe, the best player in Mexico is going to familiarise herself much, much more with that U.S. audience. After being linked with all of Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Wolfsburg, Ovalle is instead departing Tigres to join the Orlando Pride in the NWSL – becoming the most expensive player in the history of the women’s game in the process.Recommended external contentVideoWe need your consent to show you content our Editorial team embedded from Video. You can toggle this (and all other embeds from Video across goal.com) on with one click only and deactivate as well.Always display Video contentI confirm that I would like to see external content. Personal identifiable data could be transferred to Third parties. Read more about it in our privacy policy.