LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Lexington SC W League star Sarah Gorham signed a professional contract with Seccio Esportiva AEM Women (SE AEM) in Spain after one season in Kentucky.
Gorham’s spot on the Lexington roster was announced on the first day of the club’s W League with the Lexington native and five others being the first athletes announced.
Prior to her return to Lexington, Gorham had played professional soccer around the world, lacing up her cleats in Sweden, Cyprus, and Spain at the likes of Lidkopings FK, Nea Salamina Famagusta (Nea Salamis), Santa Teresa CD, and Rayo Vallecano.
Having played collegiate soccer at Western Kentucky, the midfielder was excited to return home for Lexington SC’s inaugural USL W League season.
While the year did not end in glory for the club, with division rivals Indy Eleven ultimately hoisting the W League Final trophy on July 22, it laid the foundation for a strong future of women’s soccer in Lexington, something that was further proven by Lexington SC announcing its upcoming USL Super League side that will start play in 2024 and introduce the first ever professional women’s soccer team to the Lexington area.
While professional women’s soccer in Kentucky is still a year away, Gorham herself was able to utilize her experience around the world and strong play in Lexington to earn herself a professional contract in the country she’s perhaps most familiar with in her professional career: Spain.
“Ever since I got back to the States, I have been waiting for the opportunity to get back overseas,” Gorham said. “This upcoming season with AEM means so much to me because it’s what I’ve been praying for and staying patient for. I am so grateful that I was able to play with LSC in the W-League this summer. It was great to be in a team environment and play some full sided games. Special thanks to all my LSC teammates, it was a pleasure to play alongside everyone and an honor to be coached by Alan (Kirkup).”
SE AEM currently participates in the Spanish Women’s Primera Federacion, the second tier of professional women’s soccer in Spain, which promotes directly into the Liga F, the top tier of professional women’s soccer in the country.
The club finished its 2022-23 season in 7th in the Primera Federacion, just missing out on a potential promotion playoff spot thanks to Barcelona Women’s B team not being eligible for promotion. Remaining in the Primera Federacion for the 2023-24 season, SE AEM and Gorham are set to begin a new campaign in August when they begin preseason play.
About Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (women’s professional soccer launching in 2024). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.