Orlando Pride Sign Canadian International Forward Amanda Allen

The Orlando Pride have bolstered their attack with the addition of 18-year-old Canadian international forward Amanda Allen, who signed a three-year contract to remain in purple through the 2025 NWSL season today. She will join the Pride pending receipt of her P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate and wear the No. 29 jersey for Orlando.

“Amanda is a player that we see as one of the future stars of both the NWSL and of the Canadian national team, and we’re so happy to be able to bring her to Orlando,” Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in a club press release. “She’s a dynamic, attack-minded player who is going to bring even more competition to our roster. Amanda is one of the most promising and exciting players in our game, and she is going to flourish in her development as both a player and person here with the Pride.” 

The Mississauga, Ontario, native helped Canada capture a bronze medal at the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship held in the Dominican Republic. Allen scored two goals in the group stage, striking against the Dominican Republic and Honduras. She was named to her country’s roster for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and scored a goal against Japan in the group stage. She was recently called up to represent Canada at the senior national team level in the upcoming international window. She received her first senior team call at the end of 2022 and debuted on Nov. 17 as a 17-year-old against Brazil.

“The week that I came in to train, I really felt like I was a part of the team and I felt like going pro was the next step for me, and Orlando made me feel welcome, really pushed my boundaries,” Allen said in the club’s press release. “I just loved it here. I loved the environment. The team culture was huge for me. Just the way everybody acted so professionally and really welcomed me in and had passion for the game. It felt like I was part of the family already, so I can’t wait to step on the field with them.” 

Allen had been with the Ontario National Development Centre for the last year.

What It Means for Orlando

Orlando adds another young, talented attacking player who developed at a powerhouse international soccer program. A team can never have enough good attacking talent, and the Pride have struggled to score goals for some time. Allen may need some time to develop, but she is a player with tons of upside who could become a fixture with the Pride for several years. She joins fellow rising talents Messiah Bright, Haley Bugeja, and Julie Doyle in the Pride attack.

The Pride had picked up an international slot just five days ago in a trade with Angel City FC, sending the California side $70,000 in Allocation Money, so the club is compliant on that front.

Despite getting thumped in the season opener at Portland, the club has taken some noticeably positive steps since last year. Orlando controlled much of Sunday’s match — especially in the second half — before conceding at the death and could easily have scored at least four goals with a little more precision in front of goal. It was encouraging to see the team get forward in the attack and, perhaps more importantly, get out of its own end without turning the ball over.

It’s important for the club to develop Allen and continue to make Orlando a welcoming environment for young talent.