Angel City signs 17-year-old World Cup phenom through 2030

Angel City Football Club announced Thursday the signing of 17-year-old forward Maddie DiMaria, the St. Louis phenom who shattered an American goal-scoring record at the U-17 Women's World Cup.

The deal runs four years, through the 2030 NWSL season.

Financial terms were not released.

DiMaria scored 12 goals in four games at the U-17 World Cup in Morocco.

That broke Michelle Akers' 35-year-old American record for most goals in a single World Cup.

Akers set the previous mark — 10 goals — during the 1991 senior Women's World Cup.

DiMaria is a two-time Gatorade national girls' soccer player of the year.

She scored 24 times in 23 appearances with the U.S. U-17 national team.

Before graduating from Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, she scored 67 goals and had 25 assists as a junior.

She led her high school team to a 25-0 season and a state championship.

Her father, Jeff DiMaria, played briefly for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.

Her mother, Sara, played college soccer.

Both of her older siblings also played college soccer.

DiMaria had planned to enroll early at the University of North Carolina to play college soccer this spring.

Instead, she turned professional with Angel City.

“I am so excited to be joining Angel City Football Club,” DiMaria said in a statement.

“It is a club that I am so happy and proud to be a part of.”

“I was able to train with the team over the summer, and it was such a welcoming environment.”

“Seeing all that Angel City has to offer and everyone associated with the club made me excited to learn, compete, and help the team however I can.”

“I can’t wait to get started.”

Angel City sporting director Mark Parsons has been scouting DiMaria for nearly two years.

DiMaria trained with Angel City for a week this summer.

Parsons told The Athletic that after his training staff watched DiMaria play, “they ran, all of them ran to me, (saying), ‘We have to sign her. She has to play on Saturday.’”

“This person is special,” Parsons said of DiMaria.

“But she also represents what Angel City football is about and what Angel City is trying to do over the so many years, which is win.”

“And she’s a winner.”

Parsons also said the team was impressed by her personality.

“She had a big impact,” Parsons said.

“Not just on the field by being super fun and talented, but as a senior player (told) me, ‘we love Maddie. She’s got great vibes. We really liked her as a person.’”

Angel City enters this weekend's NWSL playoffs with the youngest starting lineup in the league.

The team also carries a 10-game unbeaten streak.

Angel City set franchise records this season for wins, goals, points and goal differential.

The team finished the regular season at 15-8-7.

Saturday, Angel City travels to Kansas City to face the Current in the NWSL playoff quarterfinals.

DiMaria seems likely to debut in that game.

The NWSL, or National Women's Soccer League, is the top professional women's soccer league in the United States.

It was founded in 2012 and began play in 2013.

The league currently has 14 teams.

Angel City FC, based in Los Angeles, joined the league as an expansion team in 2022.

The club is known for its celebrity ownership group, which includes actress Natalie Portman, tennis star Serena Williams, and former U.S. women's national team players.

DiMaria's signing is the latest in a growing trend of top teenage players skipping college to turn professional early.

The NWSL allows teams to sign players as young as 16 under certain conditions.

DiMaria's record-breaking performance in Morocco drew national attention.

She scored a hat trick in the U-17 World Cup group stage against Kenya.

She scored four goals in a single match against Paraguay.

She scored twice against Spain in the knockout rounds.

Her 12 goals in one tournament surpassed not only Akers' senior World Cup record but also the previous U-17 World Cup record.

The U-17 Women's World Cup is a biennial international tournament organized by FIFA for players aged 17 and under.

The United States won the tournament in 2024.

DiMaria was the tournament's Golden Boot winner as top scorer.

She was also named the tournament's best player.

Her high school career at Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis was equally dominant.

She scored 67 goals and added 25 assists in her junior season alone.

Her team went undefeated at 25-0 and won a state championship.

She was named the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year for two consecutive years.

That award recognizes the top high school soccer player in the country.

DiMaria's family has deep soccer roots.

Her father, Jeff, played professionally in MLS for the Colorado Rapids.

Her mother, Sara, played at the college level.

Her older siblings also played college soccer.

That family background, combined with her own achievements, made her one of the most highly recruited high school players in the country.

She originally committed to the University of North Carolina, one of the most successful college soccer programs in history.

UNC has won 22 NCAA women's soccer national championships.

DiMaria had planned to enroll early at UNC this spring.

Instead, she signed with Angel City, bypassing college eligibility.

Under NCAA rules, signing a professional contract ends a player's college eligibility.

Angel City's signing of DiMaria is part of a broader strategy to build around young talent.

The team's youngest starting lineup in the league reflects that approach.

Parsons has emphasized building for the long term while competing for championships now.

“She also represents what Angel City football is about and what Angel City is trying to do over the so many years, which is win,” Parsons said.

Angel City's playoff run begins Saturday in Kansas City.

If DiMaria plays, she would become one of the youngest players to appear in an NWSL playoff game.

The NWSL playoffs feature eight teams in a single-elimination bracket.

The winner of the tournament is crowned league champion.

Angel City reached the playoffs for the second time in franchise history.

The team's previous playoff appearance was in 2023.

This season, Angel City set franchise records in multiple categories.

The team scored 45 goals in the regular season, a club record.

They allowed just 28 goals, their best defensive mark.

Their plus-17 goal differential was also a franchise best.

DiMaria joins a roster that includes several U.S. women's national team players.

The team's attacking options now include a teenager who has already proven she can score at the international level.