ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 1, 2023) — The Orlando Pride and goalkeeper Sofia Manner have agreed to a contract through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026, it was announced today. Manner was acquired via transfer from FC Honka of the Kansallinen Liiga, the premier division of women’s football in Finland where she recorded the least amount of goals conceded across the entire league, with an agreed-upon fee.
“Sofia is a tremendous addition to our goalkeeping corps and one we expect to challenge for the starting position. She brings an underdog mentality and gritty work ethic and fits every aspect of the profile we have built for our goalkeepers. Her size, aerial ability, shot-stopping prowess, and distribution are world-class. She brings international experience and has led the Kansallinen Liiga in nearly every goalkeeping metric,” VP of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said. “Her nominations for Goalkeeper of the Year and Best Player are indicative of her winning mentality and drive to be the best. We are excited to bring her to Orlando and to give her an opportunity to prove herself in our environment and in the NWSL.”
“I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to join Orlando Pride, a team I have admired since my youth. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to contribute to such a renowned organization in women’s soccer,” Manner said. “The prospect of starting this journey fills me with great enthusiasm, and I am eagerly looking forward to bringing my passion and dedication to the team. I’m ready to put in hard work and help write a new chapter for the Orlando Pride.”
Manner spent last season at FC Honka in Finland and won the league’s Player of the Month award for the month of April and won Goalkeeper of the Month twice, in April and August. Her performance also got her nominated for the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year and Best Player Award. Manner appeared in 23 games, earning 10 clean sheets in her 2023 season across all competitions.
Prior to playing overseas, Manner played collegiately at Stony Brook University and has her name scattered throughout the program’s record book. Her 1.14 career goals against average over her three seasons ranks fourth in program history. She recorded 20 shutouts, which ranks third all-time, and holds a .796 save percentage during her time with the Seawolves, which ranks ninth all time.
Manner was named America East Freshman of the Year in 2017 and would go on to win the America East Goalkeeper of the Year twice in 2018 and 2019. She started in every match in her final two seasons at Stony Brook and helped the Seawolves win the 2019 America East conference championship and the 2018 America East regular season title. Manner was named captain of the squad in her 2019 season and earned America East First Team All-Conference honors.
TRANSACTION: Orlando Pride acquires Sofia Manner via transfer from FC Honka, signing the goalkeeper to a two-year contract through the 2025 season with an option for 2026.
Sofia Manner
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-1
Born: November 9, 1997 in Helsinki, Finland
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Citizenship: FIN
