Looks like Angel City is building for the future. In a bold bid to gain dominance in the NWSL, the California-based club is making key additions to its ranks. Fresh off wrapping up their managerial search with the signing of Alexander Straus from FC Bayern Munich Women, they aren’t done raiding European talent to further elevate their squad. The latest addition is the VfL Wolfsburg star Sveindís Jónsdóttir.

Angel City FC announced on Wednesday that they have signed the talented Icelandic Women’s National Team forward as a free agent. The Frauen-Bundesliga star has inked a deal through 2027 and will occupy one of the club’s international roster spots. She’ll be eligible to play once her International Transfer Certificate (ITC) is received.

But this move raises a key question—who exactly is this European sensation eager to make her mark in the NWSL?

Meet new Angel City star Sveindís Jónsdóttir

Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir is yet another remarkable talent that has been making some waves in Europe. The Iceland international began her soccer journey by playing for her childhood club Keflavík before being loaned to Breiðablik in December 2019. There, she managed to lift the Icelandic championship while also being named the Úrvalsdeild Player of the Year and winning the Úrvalsdeild Golden Boot award. By that time, Sveindís had already caught the attention of several clubs.

And it was the following year that she made her breakthrough in Europe by signing with Frauen-Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. The forward, born on June 5, 2001, was immediately sent out on a year-long loan—this time to Swedish club Kristianstads DFF, notching six goals in 21 match appearances for them. But upon her return, the promising talent took everyone by storm.

The next four seasons saw Jónsdóttir finally cement her place in the German side, having made 93 appearances across all competitions, tallying 22 goals and 16 assists. In fact, silverware followed the 23-year-old even at Wolfsburg, securing the league title in 2022. As of her recently concluded 2024-25 season, Sveindís contested 19 games while notching two goals.

Remarkably, Jónsdóttir was outstanding for Wolfsburg in this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign. She made headlines by netting four goals off the bench in her team’s 6-1 victory over Roma in the group stage return fixture. This made her the first player in the competition’s history (since the 2009-10 season) to score more than three goals as a substitute..

Meanwhile, on the international front, she made a significant impact with the U19 Iceland Women’s National Team by notching 10 goals and seven assists. Her senior team debut came in September 2020, where the talented forward scored her first international career brace.

No wonder Sveindís Jónsdóttir secured the 2021 Icelandic Women’s Footballer of the Year title. Till now, she has managed to earn 48 caps while also tallying 12 goals and 12 assists for her beloved country. Either way, it is clear that the attacker sounds quite lethal in all aspects, meaning Angel City is surely in for a treat. In fact, similar is the assurance she has given to her new fanbase.

Is Sveindís Jónsdóttir the answer to ACFC’s struggling form?

Notably, the usual trend has seen players dreaming of contesting in Europe, especially in the age at which Sveindís Jónsdóttir is. However, the forward rather seems thrilled to begin her journey in the National Women’s Soccer League. “I am so excited to join Angel City,” said Jónsdóttir, expressing her excitement of getting to know her ‘talented‘ new teammates. “Training and playing with such amazing players will improve my game and I know the coaching staff will as well.”

“I want to be a part of something big and game-changing in women’s football and that is why I decided to join Angel City. I want to win titles and I know that is Angel City’s goal as well. To the Angel City fans, I will always give my all and I can’t wait to celebrate victories with you,” added the 23-year-old, clearly suggesting how determined she is to etch her name in the hearts of ACFC fans.

Club’s Sporting Director Mark Parsons also expressed his delight over the signature of Jónsdóttir. Describing her as a key signing, Parsons highlighted the dynamic attacking qualities that have made her a headline in prestigious tournaments like UEFA Champions League matches and on other international stages.

“Sveindís has important qualities with and without the ball that will complement our group of forwards while also bringing an incredible work ethic and hunger to win,” added Parsons. It’s not like the NWSL side has been struggling to score goals, as the forward line of Alyssa Thompson, Riley Tiernan, and Claire Emslie is giving their best. Thompson has four goals this season, while Tiernan’s 5 goals have her placed second on the NWSL Golden Boot race behind Eliza González (7). But Parsons is looking forward to seeing very specific things from the Iceland international.

“Her ability to run in behind, go one-v-one, manipulate space, press and counterpress, and her movement in the box when she’s waiting for the pass or cross, where she explodes and gets a critical touch,” are only some of them, according to Parsons as quoted by The Athletic.

Hence, it’s clear that the idea Jónsdóttir will give a big boost to the side, something she herself appears motivated to do. The timing works in Angel City’s favor, with her signing coming just as the season gains momentum. Adding to that, new manager Alexander Straus is set to take charge starting in June.

With these two key developments, all eyes will be on if they can help lift ACFC from their current seventh-place standing, where they sit with 14 points, with the next few games being crucial to keep title hopes alive. Let’s see how things unfold at this stage.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.