Shocking Transfer in the NWSL: Hina Sugita Changes Teams
In a surprising move that shakes up the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the Portland Thorns have transferred midfielder Hina Sugita to Angel City FC. In return, the Thorns will receive defender M.A. Vignola and a sum of $600,000 in intra-league transfer funds.
This agreement, in economic terms, equals the figure that Kansas City Current paid to Utah Royals FC for the US national team forward Ally Sentnor in August, but also includes a high-caliber player. The transfer of Jaedyn Shaw from North Carolina Courage to NJ/NY Gotham FC for $1.25 million in September set an intra-league record and is among the six most expensive signings globally to date.
Although the deadline for international transfers in the NWSL has already passed, trades within the league are still possible until the roster freeze deadline, set for October 9th.
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Sugita, who was usually a starter in the Thorns’ midfield, has seen her playing time reduced in September, starting in only one of the four games of the month. This season she has recorded three assists, but has yet to score.
The Portland team has a large number of midfielders, including US internationals Sam Coffey and Olivia Moultrie, in addition to Canadian player Jessie Fleming, who are also part of the regular rotation.
The Thorns tried to retain Sugita by offering him an improved and extended contract, but they couldn’t match the conditions offered by Angel City.
The 28-year-old Japanese footballer joined the Thorns in 2022, the year the team won its third NWSL championship. Sugita has represented Japan in the last two World Cups.Hina Sugita has signed for Angel City from Portland Thorns.
M.A. Vignola, a 27-year-old winger, was recently moved to a forward position following the departure of Alyssa Thompson, Angel City’s star player, who was transferred to Chelsea.
Vignola earned her first and only call-up with the USWNT in September 2023 and will bring the Thorns much-needed depth at the fullback position.
Angel City has invested significantly in full-backs, including Gisele Thompson and Miyabi Moriya.
Ali Riley, Angel City captain since the team’s inaugural season in 2022, also announced her retirement at the end of the year.
According to NWSL transfer rules, Angel City likely has a positive balance in its transfer fund following the sale of Alyssa Thompson. Each NWSL team operates under a net transfer threshold of $550,000 in 2025, with incoming and outgoing transfers offsetting that number and any surplus partially counting against the salary cap. The transfer fund threshold resets at the end of the year.
Angel City did not disclose the exact amount of the approximately $1.4 million it received for Thompson’s transfer, but any fee received this year only counts towards the net transfer limit. Any fee received this year would have given Angel City more purchasing power for other transfers.
Sugita was originally recruited by Portland when Mark Parsons was the Thorns’ coach, but she officially signed after Parsons left the club. Parsons is now the sporting director of Angel City FC.
This transfer is the second in just over a month between the Thorns and Angel City. Previously, Portland signed forward Julie Dufour and an international roster spot from Angel City for $40,000 in intra-league transfer funds. Dufour scored two goals in five games with Portland before suffering an ACL tear.
Angel City will host Portland on October 19, in the penultimate matchday of the NWSL regular season.
