West Ham United manager Matt Beard has completed the signing of England international Rachel Daly on a loan deal from National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club Houston Dash.
The 28-year-old Harrogate-born utility player is understood to have joined The Hammers on a loan deal until the end of the calendar year.
The defender, who can also operate in attack, will play in the English game for the first time since 2012 when she was on the books at former top flight side Lincoln Ladies.
West Ham United announced the signing of Daly via their official club Twitter account this afternoon, less than 72 hours before their 2020/2021 Barclays FA Women’s Super League opener against Tottenham Hotspur at The Hive.
𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿. 𝗟𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻.
We are delighted to welcome @RachelDaly3 to the Club on loan from @HoustonDash! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/q2OovyQe0Y
— West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) September 3, 2020
Daly has been capped by England at senior level on 35 occasions while she has netted three goals for the Lionesses. The player was a member of Phil Neville’s squad which competed in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. She also lifted the SheBelieves Cup with England in the United States earlier that year.
At club level, Daly started out at Leeds United before her spell at Lincoln. In 2012, she moved to Los Angeles Strikers before later representing LA Blues and SoCal FC. Daly joined current club Houston Dash in 2016 and was captain for the club in their 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup success.
Daly becomes the eighth new addition at West Ham United so far this summer.