{"id":836850,"date":"2025-03-26T12:12:45","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/26\/official-nigeria-international-striker-leaves-spain-for-washington-spirit-move\/"},"modified":"2025-03-26T12:12:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:12:45","slug":"official-nigeria-international-striker-leaves-spain-for-washington-spirit-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/26\/official-nigeria-international-striker-leaves-spain-for-washington-spirit-move\/","title":{"rendered":"Official: Nigeria international striker leaves Spain for Washington Spirit move"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WS25_WelcomeMonday_r1_16x9.webp\"><\/p>\n<p><img width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WS25_WelcomeMonday_r1_16x9-750x422.webp\" alt=\"Soccer Official: Nigeria international striker leaves Spain for Washington Spirit move\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"   data-full-width=\"1920\" data-full-height=\"1080\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Washington Spirit have <a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonspirit.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/25\/washington-spirit-signs-star-nigerian-forward-gift-monday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">confirmed<\/a> the signing of Nigerian international <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Gift+Monday\">Gift Monday<\/a> on a three-year contract, with the deal including a team option for 2028, <a href=\"https:\/\/Soccernet.ng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 23-year-old forward arrives from Spanish side <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Tenerife\">UD Tenerife<\/a> for an undisclosed transfer fee.<\/p>\n<p>Monday was enjoying an impressive campaign in the Spanish top flight before making the switch to the United States. She scored ten goals and provided three assists in 19 league appearances for Tenerife this season and was named Liga F\u2019s Player of the Month for February.<\/p>\n<p>Spirit head coach Jonathan Gir\u00e1ldez expressed his excitement over the signing, highlighting Monday\u2019s attacking qualities.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cGift has unique qualities as a forward and will add a new layer to our attacking third,\u201d Gir\u00e1ldez said. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to welcome her to the team in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Washington Spirit have signed Nigeria international Gift Monday from UD Tenerife on a three-year contract <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ftek5JGiRv\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/Ftek5JGiRv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Soccerdonna (@soccerdonna) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/soccerdonna\/status\/1904531015713837525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Monday, who has 26 goal contributions in 65 appearances for Tenerife since joining in 2022, previously played in Nigeria for FC Robo and COD United Amazons.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144734\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-144734\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/imago1013109342-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria's Gift Monday. Photo by IMAGO\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-144734\">RABAT, MOROCCO \u2013 JULY 10: Gift Monday of Super Falcons, Nigeria during the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations match between Nigeria and Burundi at Moulay Hassan FUS on July 10, 2022 in Rabat, Morocco. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>She made her senior debut for the Super Falcons in 2019 and was part of the squad that competed at the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Sharing her enthusiasm about the move, Monday expressed her eagerness to get started with her new club.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI am excited to join the Washington Spirit family as I have long wanted to play for the club,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to start living the dream.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144735\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-144735\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/imago1003194951-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria's Gift Monday. Photo by IMAGO\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-144735\">Nigeria\u2019s Gift Monday. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VagMHLcA89MZvw0Btc21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Our Sports News First \u2013 Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2024\/12\/gift-monday-nigerian-star-nets-first-ever-goal-against-barcelona-as-tenerife-crash-out-of-copa-de-la-reina.html\">Gift Monday: Nigerian star nets first-ever goal against Barcelona as Tenerife crash out of Copa de la Reina<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2023\/04\/watch-oshoala-and-gift-monday-show-off-their-dance-skills-ahead-of-new-zealand-friendly-match.html\">Watch: Oshoala and Gift Monday show off their dance skills ahead of New Zealand friendly match<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2023\/04\/zazu-super-falcons-players-nnadozie-and-gift-monday-vibe-with-portables-trending-lines.html\">Zazu\u201d- Super Falcons players Nnadozie and Gift Monday vibe with Portable\u2019s trending lines\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Soccer Gift Monday: A new Nigerian star in the States<\/h2>\n<p>Monday first made a name for herself in Nigeria\u2019s domestic league, inspiring Bayelsa Queens to the 2021\u201322 league title and finishing as the season\u2019s top scorer.<\/p>\n<p>Her performances earned her a move to Spain, where she quickly adapted to European football.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The first GIFT of this week is witnessing a beautiful MONDAY. Grateful heart \u2764\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GMPMw3lVMx\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/GMPMw3lVMx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gift Monday (@GiftMonday21) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GiftMonday21\/status\/1888826094721114312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 10, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Internationally, Monday has been a key player for Nigeria across multiple age categories.<\/p>\n<p>She featured at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women\u2019s World Cup before leading the Super Falcons to gold at the 2019 African Games, where Nigeria defeated Cameroon on penalties.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_146968\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-146968\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/imago1036879415-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria and UD Tenerife star Gift Monday\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-146968\">Nigeria and UD TENERIFE Gift Monday UD Tenerife during a Liga F match between Levante Las Planas and UD Tenerife at Camp Municipal Les Planes, in Barcelona, ,Spain on November 12, 2023. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>She was also part of the squad that won the 2021 Turkish Women\u2019s Cup, making history as the first African team to claim the title. In that tournament, she contributed a goal in Nigeria\u2019s dominant 9-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea.<\/p>\n<p>Monday\u2019s signing is a significant addition for Washington Spirit as they strengthen their squad for the upcoming NWSL season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Soccer Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0327-copy-150x150.jpg\"  height=\"80\" width=\"80\">\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/author\/imhonlamhen-eronmhonsele\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\t\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.<\/p>\n<p>From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/official-nigeria-washington-spirit.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Washington Spirit have confirmed the signing of Nigerian international Gift Monday on a three-year contract, with the deal including a team option for 2028, Soccernet.ng reports.\u00a0 The 23-year-old forward arrives from Spanish side UD Tenerife for an undisclosed transfer fee. Monday was enjoying an impressive campaign in the Spanish top flight before making the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":836851,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27096,136,2005],"tags":[15956,5237],"class_list":{"0":"post-836850","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nigeria","8":"category-official","9":"category-soccer","10":"tag-nigeria","11":"tag-official"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=836850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/836851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=836850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=836850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=836850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}