Ireland defender Diane Caldwell has joined the top-flight Swiss team FC Zürich Frauen. The Ireland international has left Reading FC Women and signed a 2-year deal with the reigning Nationalliga A champions.
🇦🇺Von der WM direkt nach Zürich! ✈️🇨🇭
🇮🇪Die 34-jährige irische Nationalspielerin Diane Caldwell wechselt vom Reading FC zum FCZ.
Die Innenverteidigerin unterschreibt für zwei Jahre und wird die #3 auf dem Rücken tragen.
📸FCZ pic.twitter.com/FRq3IiExls— FC Zürich (Frauen) - Support (@FCZFrauenTweets) August 8, 2023
Caldwell is a seasoned soccer player, who began playing football at her local club Balbriggan FC in Dublin. Since 2006, she has played for numerous clubs, including Raheny United, the Hofstra Pride team and the US Women’s Premier Soccer League side Albany Alleycats before joining the Icelandic team Þór/KA.
Ahead of the 2012 season, she moved to the Norwegian league to join Avaldsnes IL. They finished top of the league and promoted to the Toppserien and qualified for the UEFA Champions League frequently.
In January 2016, Caldwell joined the Frauen Bundesliga side FC Köln. At the end of the season, she moved to SC Sand in Badem-Württemberg following a successful trial. She went on to become the captain of SC Sand in 2020.
Caldwell completed a move to the NWSL side North Carolina Courage in January 2021, signing a one-year deal with the option to an additional year. Caldwell also signed a short-term contract with Manchester United in the 2021-2022 season for the remainder of the season before moving to Reading in August 2022.
Diane Caldwell makes her World Cup debut #IRLNGA #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/uHtkHPLPLs
— Football 24/7 (@Foetbal247TBG) July 31, 2023
Caldwell recently competed in the 2023 Women’s World Cup with Ireland under the coaching of Vera Pauw. She made an appearance in their final match against Nigeria.
Caldwell made her Ireland senior team debut in March 2015 at the age of 17 against Denmark in the Algarve Cup. She has a total of 96 international caps and scored 4 four goals for the girls in green.
