Sabrina D’Angelo is coming home to the Northern Super League (NSL).
The Welland, Ont.,’s storied goalkeeper and part of Canada women’s national team has signed a pre-contract with AFC Toronto and is eligible to play after July 20 when the transfer window opens.
D’Angelo has played all of her professional career abroad. Her college years took her to South Carolina with the Gamecocks, and she was drafted to the NWSL by Western New York Flash where she won the 2016 NWSL championship MVP.
The following year, the Flash became the North Carolina Courage. D’Angelo moved to Europe and spent four years in Sweden at Vittsjö GIK. She moved to the Women’s Super League in England and had a stint with Arsenal FC, and then two years at Aston Villa FC.
Coming back home to play in Canada was on her radar and the 33-year old chose not to renew with Aston VillaFC although they offered her an extension.
“It was the right time,” D’Angelo told CBC Sports in an exclusive. “I wanted to be home. I wanted to be close to my family.”
Her parents Gerry and Bonnie, and her fiancé (retired pro hockey player Brandon Cercone) live in Welland. D’Angelo gets emotional talking about them being able to see her play in Toronto.
“Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate. They’ve been able to fly and come and catch some games,” she said. “To have them at every home game is gonna just feel so special. And to see them in the stands — see my fiance in the stands, my extended family, I’m just so excited.”
Sabrina D’Angelo is a goalkeeper who played for the Aston Villa women’s soccer team. She has now returned home to play in the NSL for AFC Toronto.
NSL launch changed everything
When D’Angelo started her professional career there were no options to play in Canada.
That changed with the launch of the NSL.
“It’s also about being a part of a new league and a new league in Canada,” she added. “And to create that legacy and to help build something really, or continue to build something really special here.”
D’Angelo says that her return is a way to “give back to soccer in Canada” and she is honoured to be able to do that.
AFC Toronto’s sporting director, Billy Wilson, says that they are excited to bring players of her quality and experience to the club.
“She is a top-class goalkeeper who has competed at the highest levels of the game, both domestically and internationally, throughout her career,” Wilson said. “Beyond her ability on the pitch, we are signing a proven leader who is passionate about growing the game here in Canada and genuinely excited about what we are building here in Toronto.”
The idea of returning to Canada started to percolate for D’Angelo last fall.
“I was extremely homesick,” she said.
But she wanted to fulfill her contractual obligations with Aston Villa FC. When her contract was up, she knew the moment had arrived. After speaking with league founder and former CanWNT teammate Diana Matheson, D’Angelo had a Zoom call with Wilson, goalkeeper coach Rasih Pala and head coach Marko Milanović.
Cemented her decision
They discussed the way the club works, the goals and their mission — and it cemented her decision.
“Billy had this slideshow and there were three words on the slideshow and it was joy, tenacity, and legacy,” she said. “I thought: ‘Wow! This is me.’ Like, I play football, I play soccer because I love it. Joy is such a big part of why I do this.”
As a goalkeeper, D’Angelo has to be tenacious but building a legacy is aligned with what she wants to achieve as she begins what she calls “the back-end” of her career.
“So it just really felt like the right place.” She discussed the move with family, friends and CanWNT Casey Stoney. When she decided, she told Vanessa Gilles, Chloe Lacasse and Evelyn Viens. She let the rest of the team know during the most recent camp in Costa Rica.
For D’Angelo coupling her technical strengths with building a soccer culture is what she wants.
“Sabrina brings experience and quality to an already organized unit,” Milanović said.
“Her communication skills will be a massive influence in continuing to improve our defensive organization. Furthermore, her ability on the ball will open up new options when it comes to building out of the back.”
D’Angelo has met a few of the players briefly but is looking forward to getting to know her new teammates better. And her goal is to grow as a player and as a leader — both on AFC Toronto and on the national team.
Helping the team qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and then the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is a priority for her, and so is showcasing her leadership and expertise to help younger players develop.
With her sights set on helping AFC Toronto win championship this year, D’Angelo can’t wait to get to work.
“I’m really excited to see what this league has to offer and how it can challenge me.”
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