The preparations for the 2025 NWSL season look to be in full swing. With just a month remaining before we kick off with the new campaign, players and coaches of all the respective teams are looking to strengthen their dynamics and keep a strong foot in the league. But among all 14 sides that continue to stand out is none other than NC Courage, who, days after splashing $450K on Jaedyn Shaw, has secured another key arrival.

Shinomi Koyama, to break the ice, is the name that the North Carolina-based side has managed to sign for reportedly $225K. The Japanese international arrives from Swedish club Djurgårdens IF on a 3-year-long deal that will evidently run until 2027. One may call it among the most surprising signings from the Courage but head coach Sean Nahas knows what the 19-year-old talented midfielder will bring to the table.

“Adding Shinomi only strengthens an already excellent midfield group for us,” Nahas explained as compiled by the club’s website. “A young talent who has started to emerge on the world stage. Extremely cerebral, technically proficient, and an excellent passer, she will fit right into our style of play and be herself.”

The Courage head coach further expressed his enthusiasm about the new addition joining players like Denise O’Sullivan and Riley Jackson, as he looks forward to seeing the enhanced daily environment of the team. “She will be a great addition to our team along with our culture and we cannot wait to have her here in NC. I know our supporters will welcome her with open arms in the coming months! Yet another great day for our club,” added Nahas. 

Seeing the gaffer expressing his happiness over the deal suggests that NC must have been looking at Koyama for quite some time. Well, we aren’t surprised, considering the milestones that she has achieved. Set to turn 20 later this month, Shinomi featured 21 times for Djurgårdens in the 2024 season while simultaneously finding the back of the net four times. In over 41 professional league appearances, she has nine goals and an assist.

Before her stint with the Swedish side, the teenager also made 13 appearances for Kobe Leonessa of the Japanese WE League in the 2022-23 season later signing for Cezero Osaka to feature seven times in the following season. Koyama also has an impressive international record, having captained Japan through the knockout rounds of the 2024 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where the team secured a silver medal alongside her new Courage teammate, Manaka Matsukubo.

Not only did she shine with her versatility by starting in both midfield and defense but the starlet also got her name on the scoresheet once. Either way, such achievements are enough to suggest that it’s a steal deal for NC Courage, who also seems to have achieved a significant title for themselves!

Spending spree continues for NC Courage ahead of the 2025 season

The offseason has surely kept the North Carolina Courage busier than ever. For starters, it was just recently they acquired Jaedyn Shaw from San Diego Waves, paying a whopping $450,000. Adding the fresh $225,000 they paid for Shinomi Koyama, it clearly makes them one of the biggest spenders in the NWSL offseason so far.

It’s not like Courage is all about spending big; Sean Nahas and Co. have also secured free signings. Aside from signing forward Hannah Betfort to a two-year contract through 2026, with an option to extend until 2027, the team also secured defender Brooklyn Courtnall from USC on a contract lasting until 2027. They also released defenders Julia Dorsey and Landy Mertz as free agents after their contract expired.

Clearly, the team is looking to spend wherever’s necessary while also maintain their status of big spenders. In fact, who knows? With the primary transfer window officially opening on January 28, we get to see more signings from NC Courage. But that also means other teams will increase their transfer activity and may challenge the 2x NWSL Championship and 3x NWSL Shield winners’ big spender crown. Either way, let’s see what happens at this stage.