PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have transferred midfielder Lindsey Horan for an agreed upon fee to French side Olympique Lyonnais, it was announced today.
“Since Lindsey left on loan for France we have remained in contact and continued the dialogue about her return to Portland. She has had a tremendous experience at Lyon, and we are thrilled for all of her success,” said Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc. “In our discussions, Lindsey expressed her desire to remain there long term and continue that journey. She has our full support, and we are grateful for all the success she has helped bring to this club.”
Horan, 29, arrived in Portland ahead of the 2016 season, and across six seasons (2016-21), she appeared in 106 matches across all competitions (105 starts), tallying 31 goals and 14 assists. In NWSL regular season play, Horan logged 88 appearances (all starts) with 25 goals and nine assists. Among players all-time for the club, she ranks in the top five in games played, games started, minutes played (7,712) and goals.
“Portland holds such a special place in my heart, I made many incredible memories I will never forget. On top of that, I also had the opportunity to win multiple trophies and share that success with so many amazing people,” said Horan. “I want to thank all those at the Thorns organization who have supported me along the way, my teammates, my coaches, and of course, the best fans in the world. Playing for this club and city and getting to experience gameday at Providence Park brought me great joy during my career. For me, Portland will always be home. Thank you for understanding my goals and dreams in my continuing career.”
The Golden, Colo., native was named NWSL MVP in 2018, was a two-time NWSL Best XI selection (2018, 2019) and earned NWSL Best XI Second Team honors twice (2017, 2021) and was the 2017 NWSL Championship game MVP. She helped the club capture two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), an NWSL Championship (2017), NWSL Challenge Cup (2021) and Women’s International Champions Cup (2021).
Horan (128 caps, 27 goals) was voted the 2021 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, while during her time with the national team she has won a World Cup (2019) and a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In 2023 with the U.S., Horan has started and played in six matches, tallying one goal.
