Guro Reiten Vows to Pour Her Heart and Soul into Gotham FC's Championship Push
Guro Reiten enjoys life in smaller communities. Her Norwegian birthplace of Sunndalsøra houses under 5,000 residents. During her time in Oslo, she opted to reside beyond the metropolitan area. While playing for Chelsea in the Women's Super League, she settled outside London's boundaries. Now, she's preparing for New York City to represent NJ/NY Gotham FC, though she's assured her New Jersey residence will provide comfort as she discovers the busiest environment she's encountered.
"Coming from such a tiny community, I understand that staying slightly outside New York will suit me perfectly," Reiten explains. "I'm eager to experience everything, meet the Gotham players and coaching staff, and discover what the city offers."
The Norwegian star hasn't fully processed her upcoming relocation to New York. "It's unbelievable," she responds when reminded of her forthcoming American journey—one she'll embark on with her entire family.
"My family will accompany me—Julie, my partner, and our little commander Felix. He's developing rapidly at four months old, though he's unaware he's relocating to New Jersey," Reiten mentions regarding her son.
Reiten, who will don jersey No. 18, arrives at Gotham via loan from Chelsea through July. She has secured a pre-agreement to commit through 2029 as an unrestricted player. Gotham's general manager Yael Averbuch West reveals Reiten has been monitored for some time, and with her Chelsea deal concluding this summer, they pursued bringing one of football's premier left-footed attacking players to America.
"She's competed at elite levels for numerous seasons with an extremely accomplished organization and her country's squad, and we've consistently respected her contributions regarding tactical awareness and technical skills to implement her vision," Averbuch West explains.
As the 31-year-old attacker explored her possibilities, Gotham emerged as a frontrunner. Through discussions with management and personnel, Reiten discovered the organization's determination and confidence in its roster. She desired to contribute to that vision and test herself in the highly competitive National Women's Soccer League.
"Once we established contact with her and her representatives, we immediately reached out. I believe it was around January 1st, and through multiple discussions, we had the chance to learn about her while she discovered more about our organization," Averbuch West states. "She has a family with an infant, so we understood convincing her to join Gotham would be challenging. However, through several meetings, including an excellent face-to-face session in London with her and her representative, we ultimately persuaded her to trust us."
Averbuch West and Gotham's leadership view Reiten as someone who will seamlessly integrate with their talented, adaptable roster of proven champions. She believes Reiten's tactical intelligence complements Gotham's distinctive approach and that her left-footed versatility provides the excellence they sought while defending their 2025 NWSL Championship crown.
GOAL!!!!!
4-0
Guro Reiten scores the 4th goal
Wieke kaptein's assist #CFCW pic.twitter.com/punI2aiarW
"This league is remarkably competitive, demanding and unpredictable, where any squad can defeat another on any occasion," Reiten states. "You must consistently perform at peak level to succeed, which I find truly thrilling."
At Gotham, she'll reconnect with former Chelsea colleagues Ann-Katrin Berger and Jess Carter. Though she anticipates the reunion, she avoided consulting them during her decision process. The choice to relocate to New York remained a private matter between herself and her family. Nevertheless, when Norway faced Germany on March 7 for World Cup qualification, she ensured she connected with Berger.
"I chatted briefly with Ann before the match, though not about this situation, just inquiring about her wellbeing and satisfaction [at Gotham], and she's thoroughly enjoying it," Reiten shares.
While anticipating her debut with Gotham, Reiten has been contemplating her Chelsea experience, particularly the supporters.
"The supporters hold tremendous significance for me; they've made my experience here extraordinary, and all the affection and encouragement they've demonstrated over nearly seven years has been incredible," she expresses. "I've shed tears because I'm emotional. It's heartbreaking when chapters close, yet it's also thrilling because it represents a new beginning."
Reiten remains dedicated to both individual growth and team excellence. She aims to enhance her reliability and game influence while helping the squad pursue greatness, despite the unfamiliar NWSL playoff format.
"Truthfully, I haven't considered it extensively because I'm unfamiliar with the system," she admits. "However, it creates intense and demanding matches toward the conclusion since anyone can claim victory, regardless of regular season performance. It keeps everyone alert and performing optimally. It will certainly be different!"
Regardless of format, Reiten anticipates one element: competing in football.
"It's my greatest joy, I adore this sport," she declares. "I compete with enthusiasm and emotion, and I'm prepared to contribute everything."
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Jenna Tonelli writes for Sports Illustrated Soccer. She has deep enthusiasm for women's football, especially the NWSL, USWNT, and Italy's women's national squad. Outside of soccer thoughts, Jenna enjoys cold coffee and supporting the Buffalo Bills.