Nicole Payne joins Portland Thorns from PSG

• French giants Paris Saint-Germain and the American side Portland Thorns FC have officially sealed the deal for the acquisition of Super Falcons defender, Nicole Payne.
• The 23-year-old defender, who recently made her mark with Paris Saint-Germain in the Division 1 Féminine, now finds herself on a season-long loan with Portland Thorns FC.

Payne moved to PSG in July of 2023, and she swiftly made her presence felt by featuring in two matches for the French side.

Payne made her debut start on January 20th and contributed to PSG's impressive 8-1 victory over FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

Payne's journey to international recognition began in June 2021 when she debuted for the Nigeria Women’s National Team against Jamaica.

She was in Nigeria's squad for the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations, where the Super Falcons finished in fourth place. Overall, Payne has seven appearances for Nigeria, including two starts.

Before her venture into European football, Payne honed her skills on the collegiate stage in the United States.

Playing for the University of Southern California, she scored three goals in 16 matches, impressively starting in 15 of them.

Before her time with the Trojans, Payne spent three years at West Virginia University, tallying four goals and three assists in 53 matches, with two NCAA Tournament appearances under her belt.

Portland Thorns FC's General Manager and President of Soccer Operations, Karina LeBlanc, expressed their delight in welcoming Payne, emphasizing her dynamic defensive abilities.

LeBlanc stated, "Nicole is a young and dynamic defender who has the ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball." LeBlanc also highlighted Payne's deep admiration for the club, noting her eagerness to represent both the city and the Thorns' crest.

Payne is set to don the colours of Portland Thorns FC until December 31, 2024, on loan, with the club holding an option to make the transfer permanent.