Wellington-born full back CJ Bott has joined English Women’s Super League club Leicester City after her departure from Norwegian first division side Vålerenga.
The 26-year-old Football Fern joins the Foxes in time for their weekend match against Manchester United.
She told Leicester City TV:
“I’ve definitely wanted to play in England for a long time, so this seemed like a natural move for both me and the club and a good fit and I felt like I was good fit for the club too.”
Bott’s football career began with New Zealand clubs Tawa AFC, Lynn-Avon United and Waterside Karori before heading to Europe where she played for German Bundesliga side FF USV.
In 2018, she joined Swedish club Vittsjö GIK and a year later joined Toppserien-based Vålerenga.
Bott made her international debut in March 2014 and was part of the Ferns squad at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups.
Bott: ‘It’s an aggressive league which suits my playing style’
In her interview with LCTV, Bott says:
“It’s been a long road to get here with visas and things like that, but it’s so great to finally be here and get among things and meet everyone. It’s awesome, so I’m happy now.
“I’ve played in a lot of high-level games and a lot of high-level competitions and I think that experience is going to be really important. I’m really grateful to have that under my belt.”
About the WSL, the New Zealander says:
“It’s a great league. It’s got more and more professional, which is awesome for women’s football and women’s sport. It’s also an incredibly technical league and very tactical as well, it’s great to watch. I’m definitely excited to be a part of it.
“I feel like it’s definitely going to be a good fit. It’s an aggressive league, which suits my playing style really well. It’s attack-minded, which I really love, and it’s going to challenge me a lot but I think I have a lot to offer as well.”
More football stories
