Thorns midfielder Vero Boquete has signed with 1 FFC Frankfurt for the 2014-2015 Frauen-Bundesliga season.
I'm happy to announce that I'll play for 1.FFC Frankfurt this season. I'm excited to start and be part of one of the best teams in Europe.
— Verónica Boquete (@VeroBoquete) August 25, 2014
A three-time NWSL Player of the Week since joining the Thorns in early June, she made 16 appearances, with 4 goals and finished 3rd in the league in assists with 6.
"It was a great three months here in Portland and I think it was one of the best decisions in my career. I really enjoyed my teammates, the staff and especially playing in Portland. It’s amazing, the fans are the best in the world," Boquete said in a press release. "Now I have to continue my career, and the next step is to go back to Europe. It’s a new challenge and probably the biggest challenge in my career. After this experience, I’m going to try to do my best in Germany and I hope that I can come back next year, too."
Vero was acquired by the Thorns, along with midfielder/defender Sarah Huffman from the Western New York Flash on April 7, 2014.
Thorns head coach Paul Riley is optimistic she will return,
"She loves Portland and she loves the team. Playing in Europe is important in her preparation for the World Cup. Being close to Spain makes traveling, competing and maintaining a good balance considerably easier. We want her back in Portland and we look forward to her return."
This is likely the first of many such signing and loan-type moves for the Thorns, and other teams in the NWSL. With several players on National Teams still vying for spots in the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada, they will be looking for opportunities to stay on the pitch, with the potential for the 2015 NWSL season to either start later, possibly after the World Cup.
Vero will join Seattle Reign midfielder Jessica Fishlock with Frankfurt, the seven-time winners of the Frauen-Bundesliga and nine-time winners of the Frauen DFB-Pokal, including last season.