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Racing Louisville FC

Racing Signs Star Forward Uchenna Kanu, Loans Riley Parker

February 2, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release


Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu with Tigres UANL
Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu with Tigres UANL
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: Tigres UANL)

Racing Louisville FC made a pair of moves this week as the global transfer window closed, acquiring star Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu via transfer and loaning out rookie forward Riley Parker.

Louisville used allocation money to pay a transfer fee to Mexican club Tigres UANL for Kanu, who in turn signed a two-year contract with Racing with an option for the 2025 season.

Racing also loaned rookie forward Riley Parker to Tigres through June after signing her to a one-year contract with an option for 2024.

"I think these deals are great for all of us," said Racing head coach Kim Björkegren. "Riley is a young, talented player who has already shown her quality and how much football means to her. But we also know the step from college to the NWSL is a difficult one, so this move will be good for her development, and we think a good player will come back even better after this experience.

"Uchenna is a great player with experience in three different top leagues. She was outstanding in her last year in Sweden. The last year has also been successful for Uche with both her club and national teams. We see her as a winger, but she can also play as a center forward. We're really happy to have her."

Kanu, 25, joins Racing after a stellar year at Tigres, where she rang up 20 goals in 30 appearances for the Monterey, Mexico-based club, helping her team claim Liga MX Femenil's Torneo Apertura trophy this past November. She comes to Louisville as one of several exciting offseason additions: Racing also brought in NWSL stars Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett and veteran winger Paige Monaghan as well as Brazilian international Ary Borges, South African star Thembi Kgatlana and Finnish defender Elli Pikkuyämsä.

Before her time in Mexico, Kanu impressed in Sweden's Damallsvenskan, tallying 22 goals in 42 matches over two years with Linköpings FC. Kanu's 17 scores in the 2021 season ranked second in the league. She also spent part of the pandemic-impacted 2019-20 season in Spain with Sevilla FC, making six appearances for the Spanish club.

At the international level, Kanu has 10 goals in 12 appearances for Nigeria, including a sensational goal against the U.S. Women's National Team in a friendly last September and two more at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. Kanu represented Nigeria at the 2019 World Cup in France, starting the Round of 16 match vs. Germany after coming on as a substitute in the Super Falcons' three group-stage games, and previously played in the U-17 and U-20 World Cups as well.

Signing with Louisville represents a return to the United States for Kanu, who tallied 157 goals and 53 assists for Southeastern University, an NAIA program in Florida. She was the NAIA Player of the Year in 2017, setting the NAIA record for goals in a single season with 57.

For Parker, the move sets up the fourth-round NWSL Draft pick with the chance to play high-level competition in Liga MX Femenil while Racing tracks her progress. Tigres is currently unbeaten in Torneo Clausura, with four consecutive wins to start the competition.

Racing drafted Parker out of the University of Alabama, where she set a program record with 17 goals in her senior season and helped the Crimson Tide reach the College Cup for the first time in school history. The 22-year-old was an All-American and the SEC Forward of the Year.

"Riley has immersed herself quickly in the group and has carried herself professionally," said Racing assistant coach Bev Yanez. "We've been pleased as a staff with her enthusiastic personality and technical ability. This will be a great opportunity for her to continue to grow. We wish her the very best and look forward to watching her progression as she gains as much as she can from the experience."

Racing, which began preseason training on Jan. 25, will see its 22-game NWSL regular season this year play out over seven months, starting on March 25. A full schedule is pending, with season, group and premium tickets on sale now by visiting RacingLouFC.com/tickets.

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Images from this story

Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu with Tigres UANL
Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu with Tigres UANL
(Tigres UANL)		   

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