It didn’t take long for Abbotsford’s Sophie Schmidt to reappear in headlines since the Women’s World Cup.
The Canadian international signed with German women’s football club FFC Frankfurt last week, making her one of just a handful of non-German players on the squad.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to play in Germany. I held off because of the National Women’s Soccer League coming around and (Canadian coach) John (Herdman) wanted to have our best Canadians playing in and supporting the league,” Schmidt told the Canadian Press from Frankfurt.
Schmidt last played for Sky Blue FC of the NWSL, a nine-team league in the U.S., in the 2013-14 season when the club finished sixth. Schmidt tallied one goal in 22 games.
The 27-year-old midfielder was a key part of the Canadian team in the recent Women’s World Cup, operating as a regular starter and free kick specialist.
The Abbotsford product has accumulated 16 goals through 137 international caps.
FFC Frankfurt is a force in the women’s Bundesliga and abroad, claiming four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles, including this year’s crown — the most among all European clubs.
The club finished last season in third, but has the most German football championship titles among the Women’s Bundesliga with seven. The club’s dominant run came in the early 2000s, up until 2007-08, where they clinched six of their seven top-place honours.
Schmidt’s signing comes just a few weeks shy of the team’s season, which kicks off in late August.
