According to Caitlin Murray reporting for ESPNW, the Portland Thorns have finalized the long-awaited signing of French midfielder Amandine Henry.
The Thorns have reportedly been pursuing Henry since late last season and hints have continued to surface linking the two parties, including a recent tweet from Thorns owner Merritt Paulson hinting at upcoming news from the Thorns. At this point, with the NWSL preseason kicking off in just over a week, the signing looks imminent.
While the Thorns have a number of players that could slot into the No. 6 position for the side, Henry will become the instant favorite for the position. While it remains to be seen how new coach Mark Parsons will arrange his side, new USWNT arrival Meghan Klingenberg had been mooted as a potential defensive midfield option for the Thorns and will now almost certainly be moved back to the left back position for which she is known.
How Henry will fit into the restrictive salary structure of the NWSL remains to be seen, but, according to Murray, the extent to which the fans in Portland and around the league have embraced women's soccer is certainly a motivating factor in bringing the French star to the states.
