Canadian women's national team veteran Shelina Zadorsky has joined West Ham United on loan, the team announced Wednesday.
The defender joins the Hammers from Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the 2023-24 season.
The 31-year-old, who will wear No. 14, has made 56 appearances in the Barclays Women's Super League for Spurs, where she has played for the past three and a half seasons.
Internationally, Zadorsky has 95 caps since making her debut in 2013, including playing a vital role in helping Canada win Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games.
“I’m delighted to be joining West Ham United,” Zadorsky told West Ham TV, according to a team release. "Being a defender, I hope I can bring a new presence to the backline and, ultimately, help the team to more clean sheets in the second half of the season.
“I feel like this is a really exciting group and I’ve already been welcomed in by everyone here. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Rehanne Skinner, West Ham Women's manager, is "delighted" to be working with the Canadian and hopes Zadorsky's leadership and experience will help the Hammers in 2024.
Zadorsky previously worked with Skinner when she managed Tottenham Women from 2020 to 2023.
"I’m delighted to be working with Shelina again, having worked with her in the past,” Skinner said, according to a team release. "Shelina is a hard-working, dedicated player who will fit straight into our trademark West Ham style of play.
“As a left-footed central defender, Shelina will also help to add balance to our defensive line and I know that she will be a positive energy in the dressing room. ... Shelina sets and drives standards on and off the pitch, and will ultimately help us to perform to the level that we want to be at.”
The West Ham Women sit 11th in the 12-team league and need to have a solid start to 2024 in order to avoid relegation.
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