Talia Sommer

Talia Sommer
טליה זומר
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-02-19) 19 February 2004
Place of birth New York City, u.S.
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Gotham FC
Number 14
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2025 Butler Bulldogs 72 (28)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2026– Gotham FC 0 (0)
International career‡
2019 Israel U16 3 (1)
2019 Israel U17 3 (0)
2022 Israel U19 3 (1)
2021– Israel 26 (6)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 June 2025

Talia Sommer (Hebrew: טליה זומר; born 19 February 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Born in the United States, she plays for the Israel national team. She played college soccer for the Butler Bulldogs.

Early life

Born in New York,[1] Sommer moved from the United States to Israel at the age of six.[2] She began playing football at the age of four, and in her early years she played for the boy's team of Maccabi Tel Aviv, before her family relocated to the United States, where she played youth football with the Manhattan Soccer Club.[3] She attended Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium in Israel, where she won the Israeli High School Cup.[4][5] She then attended Butler University in the United States, where she studied physics.[6] Sommer obtained outstanding athlete status designation in the IDF when she was 18, allowing her to begin her NCAA Division I career.[3][7]

College career

Sommer played for the Butler Bulldogs from 2022 to 2025, scoring 28 goals and adding 24 assists in 72 games.[8] She cited the coaching staff at Butler as the primary reason for her choice to join the program.[9] She earned All-Big East honors every year, including three straight first-team selections.[8] In 2025, she was named the Big East Co-Midfielder of the Year.[8] She was also named to the fourth-team of the United Soccer Coaches' 2025 Women's All-America Teams.[10]

Sommer was named to the Scholar All-America Second Team and the All-North/Central Region Team in 2025, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computational Neuroscience with a minor in Philosophy.[11]

Club career

Sommer played for ASA Tel Aviv, making her Ligat Nashim debut at the age of 14.[3] Competing with the team she won both the league and the Israeli Women's Cup.[4]

On 9 December 2025, Sommer joined the 2026 NWSL rookie class as Gotham FC announced her signing on a one-year contract, making her the club's first signing ahead of the 2026 season.[12][13] She is the first Israeli player to join the NWSL, and upon signing with Gotham she said "I’m proud to be the first Israeli selected to play in the best league in the world, and I promise that every time I step onto the field, I’ll represent not just myself and my family, who always support me with love, but also my country and the flag I love so much."[7][14] Sommer made her professional debut on 1 February 2026, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mandy Freeman in Gotham's FIFA Women's Champions Cup third place win over AS FAR.[15] Sommer was on the injury list and unavailable for selection for Gotham's opening game of the 2026 season due to a thigh injury.[16][17]

Style of play

Sommer mainly operates as an attacking midfielder.[18] She was described as "one of the most promising players in Israeli women's soccer".[19]

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 21 February 2022 Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Patras, Greece  Greece 2–2 2–2 Friendly
2. 29 November 2023 Armavir City Stadium, Armavir, Armenia  Armenia 1–0 4–0 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League C
3. 31 May 2024 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  Scotland 1–4 1–4 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying
4. 21 February 2025 Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov, Sofia, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 2–1 3–1 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League C
5. 8 April 2025 Budaörsi Városi Stadium, Budaörs, Hungary  Bulgaria 2–2 3–3
6. 3–2

Personal life

Sommer is the daughter of a political science professor and clinical psychologist.[20]

References

  1. ^ "שחקי אותה כמו זהבי: הקשיים של הכדורגלנית המבטיחה טליה זומר". walla.co.il.
  2. ^ ""רוצה להיות אחת השחקניות הטובות בעולם"". sport5.co.il.
  3. ^ a b c "Israeli soccer star Talia Sommer signs with Gotham FC". The Jerusalem Post. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b Ghermezian, Shiryn (11 December 2025). "Talia Sommer Becomes First Israeli Athlete to Join US National Women's Soccer League". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  5. ^ "מעבר יוקרתי? זומר יצאה למבחנים באתלטיקו". ynet.co.il.
  6. ^ ""מה הטעם בלקטול אותנו"". israelhayom.co.il.
  7. ^ a b Zenziper, Nadav (9 December 2025). "Talia Sommer is first Israeli player to join US National Women's Soccer League". Ynet Global. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Talia Sommer". Butler Bulldogs. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  9. ^ Glaspie, Akeem (9 December 2025). "Butler women's soccer star signs with reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC". Indy Star. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  10. ^ Gruner, Joey (5 December 2025). "Talia Sommer Receives All-America Recognition from United Soccer Coaches". Butler University Athletics. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  11. ^ Gruner, Joey (18 December 2025). "United Soccer Coaches Recognizes Talia Sommer with National Academic Honor". Butler Sports. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Gotham FC Signs Butler Standout Talia Sommer". Gotham FC. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  13. ^ Hartnett, Sean (9 December 2025). "Gotham FC Make First Signing Following NWSL Championship Season". Athlon Sports. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  14. ^ Greenfeld, Shaul (11 December 2025). "Talia Sommer Becomes First Israeli in Top U.S. Women's Soccer League". Haaretz. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Gotham FC Earns Bronze Medal With Win Over ASFAR". Gotham FC. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  16. ^ Macaulay-Smith, David (14 March 2026). "Gotham FC Kicks Off Title Defense Against Expansion Side Boston Legacy". On New Jersey. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Team News: McCaskill Returns; Davidson, Dudley Make Subs Bench at Boston". Gotham FC. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  18. ^ "הרשימה בחו"ל: טליה זומר הליגיונרית של העונה". one.co.il.
  19. ^ ""הייתי מראה איזו שחקנית אני באתלטיקו"". sport5.co.il.
  20. ^ ""When I play soccer, I feel 100% completely Talia"".
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