Bay FC announced the signing of 20-year-old English forward, Keira Barry, to a four-year contract through the 2029 NWSL season.
“When the opportunity to join Bay FC came up, it felt like the right move straight away,” said Barry in a statement. “After speaking with (head coach) Emma Coates and meeting (sporting director) Matt Potter and the staff, it was clear that the club’s values, ambition and people aligned with what I’m looking for at this stage of my career.”
Barry only made two appearances with the Reds as she spent most of her time on loan spells with different clubs including Crystal Palace and Sunderland. With Crystal Palace in the 2023-2024 WSL 2 season, Barry helped earn the club promotion to the top flight in English football.
The 20-year-old forward has also already played with Coates with the England Under-23 team, and most recently featured with the team in December friendlies. There she scored and earned England’s player of the match honors in the team’s 4-2 defeat against the United States.
“Having worked closely with (Barry) in England, I’ve seen firsthand the relentless energy and technical quality she brings,” said head coach Emma Coates in a statement. “She is a brave, forward-thinking winger who isn’t afraid to take players on and create something out of nothing.
“She has a professional pedigree that fits perfectly with the culture we are building here. We want to be a team that attacks variety, pace and purpose, and (Barry) is a ‘front-foot’ player who will give us exactly that.”
Bay FC now has many dangerous options in the attacking front with Racheal Kundananji, Onyeka Gamero, Alex Pfeiffer plus three more forwards officially listed on the club’s preseason roster.
“I’m excited for the challenge of playing in a new league, testing myself against top players and experiencing life in the U.S.,” Barry said. “I believe this is the perfect environment to continue pushing my game forward, and I’m looking forward to showing Bay FC fans what I can bring.”
The signing was first reported in January by Kathryn Batte with the english outlet, The Telegraph. Barry reportedly rejected multiple offers from other English clubs (Aston Villa, London City, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest) to instead join her former coach in the United States.
Bay FC in the midst of their preseason play the Utah Royals, on Friday, February 6, in a closed-door friendly, then will play the Houston Dash in a match open to the public at the Coachella Valley Invitational on Sunday, February 15, in Indio, California.