Pride Pair Make Tottenham Hotspur Women Stay Permanent

Orlando Pride loanees, Alanna Kennedy and Shelina Zadorsky are staying at Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season on permanent deals for the Women.

Alex Morgan was the big name this summer for the Tottenham Hotspur Women, but even before the American footballing icon came over to N17, two of her Orlando Pride teammates had already made the journey. Morgan noted how much easier it was for her to come to Tottenham with former teammates Alanna Kennedy and Shelina Zadorsky already at Hotspur Way. And while Morgan decided to return to the states at the end of her loan, both Kennedy and Zadorsky are sticking with Spurs.

Whereas Morgan took a while to get up to speed and fitness, both Zadorsky and Kennedy hit the ground running for Tottenham, making 23 appearances combined.

Alanna Kennedy

25-year-old Alanna Kennedy is an Australian international, who has made 12 appearances in all competitions slotting in at the base of the Lillywhites midfield. In many respects Kennedy is for the women what Pierre Højbjerg is for the men in terms of her leadership, intensity, and ability in the middle of the pitch.

Kennedy told TottenhamHotspur.com, that when she “signed there was always the potential for me to stay longer and when the decision had to be made, I didn’t feel ready to end my time here”. A two-time World Cup player for Australia, Kennedy has scored once for Tottenham in October in the 4-0 win over the London City Lionesses.

Shelina Zadorsky

A 28-year-old London, Ontario, Canada native, Shelina Zadorsky brings tremendous experience and tenacity to the central defense for Tottenham. Zadorsky has been a professional footballer since 2013 having played professionally in Australia, Sweden, and the United States before joining Spurs in August 2020.

Zadorsky has 11 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur Women this season, with 1 goal in Cup competition. Shelina won a bronze medal for Canada at the 2016 Olympics and played for Canada at the 2019 World Cup. In terms of staying on at Hotspur Way, Zadorsky told TottenhamHotspur.com that “it was an easy decision to make” and that she is “looking forward to the rest of the season” noting the teams potential and an opportunity to be part of the journey.

While Tottenham Hotspur could not hang on to Alex Morgan – for now – keep Zadorsky and Kennedy in the squad until the end of the season is a good sign for Tottenham Hotspur Women moving forward. The more international players, whether homegrown or not the women can add to the team the better, as the club look to seal their stay in the top division in the coming weeks.