Midfielder Annie Karich is the first player signed by Boston Legacy FC, an expansion club set to join the National Women’s Soccer League in 2026.

The team announced her signing on Wednesday.

Karich’s contract will run through the end of the 2027 season with an option for 2028. She signed as a free agent from Frauen-Bundesliga club SC Freiburg, where she made 36 appearances over the past two seasons.

The 21-year-old is on loan to an unspecified Liga MX Femenil club for the rest of 2025 and will join the Legacy in January for the preseason.

“We’re very excited to welcome Annie Karich to Boston,” general manager Dome Guasch said in a news release. “Annie is a midfielder that brings a unique blend of technical quality and tactical awareness. In her time at SC Freiburg, she has also proved her competitiveness and maturity on the field. Annie has the potential to make a real impact in our team. We’re looking forward to supporting her development within our environment.”

Karich, a native Californian, played two seasons in college at Santa Clara and was named West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. She was a member of the 2022 U20 Women’s World Cup roster.

“I want to grow by developing my overall game as a player and by learning how to adapt again into a new city, new team, and everything, and I’m really excited to do that here in Boston,” Karich said.

–Field Level Media