Bay FC Signs Rising Star Kennedy Fuller in Major Deal

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Bay FC have made one of the boldest moves of the NWSL season, prising highly rated midfielder Kennedy Fuller from Angel City FC in a deal that underlines the club’s ambition to climb quickly into the league’s elite.

The expansion side announced on Wednesday that they have acquired Fuller and an international roster spot for the remainder of the 2026 campaign in exchange for $500,000 in intra-league transfer funds and $20,000 in allocation money. The U.S. U-20 international will report after the June international window.

That price tag is no small statement. For a teenager still at the start of her career, it is a bet on upside, creativity and a player who already looks comfortable dictating games at this level.

Coates gets her creator

Head coach Emma Coates has been open about wanting more invention in the final third. Fuller fits that brief perfectly.

“Kennedy is an exciting player and a fantastic addition,” Coates said. “She is a superb young talent who possesses lots of NWSL experience. Her creativity and quality on the ball make her a joy to watch and will add to our attack. What is most exciting is the room she has to continue developing, and I believe she has a very bright future ahead of her at Bay FC.”

This is not a speculative signing. Fuller arrives in San Jose already battle-tested.

In 2026, she has featured in all 11 of Angel City’s matches before the NWSL’s June break, contributing two goals and two assists and again operating as a central playmaker. Last year, she emerged as one of the league’s premier chance creators, finishing in the top 10 in chances created (36) and earning Week 24 Player of the Week honors. For a player who only made her professional debut in March 2024 at 16 years old, those are serious numbers.

Angel City were the club that took the initial leap, signing the Southlake, Texas native as just the eighth player under the NWSL’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism. Bay FC now hope to reap the rewards of the next phase of that development.

Fuller embraces Bay FC project

For Fuller, the move is less about leaving Los Angeles than stepping into a project that promises responsibility and growth.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Bay FC and be part of what the club is building,” Fuller said. “From my conversations with Emma and the staff, it was clear that this is an environment where players are challenged to grow and reach their potential. I’m looking forward to learning from my teammates, connecting with the fans and doing everything I can to help the team compete for championships.”

The message is clear: this is not a short-term stop. Bay FC see her as a central piece, and Fuller is talking like a player ready to shoulder that expectation.

Proven pedigree on the international stage

Her résumé with the United States youth national teams helps explain the size of Bay FC’s investment.

Fuller has worn the U.S. shirt at various age levels since 2022, most recently with the U-20 National Team in June, where she lined up alongside current Bay FC forward Onyeka Gamero. The pair now reunite at club level, giving Coates a ready-made connection in attack.

Her performances have not gone unnoticed. Fuller was named one of three finalists for U.S. Soccer’s 2024 Young Player of the Year award, a nod reserved for the most promising talents in the system.

The honors run deep. In 2022, she drove the U.S. U-15s to the Concacaf Women’s U-15 Championship title, taking home the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Two years later, she lifted more silverware with the U-17s, winning gold at the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship and bronze at the 2024 U-17 World Cup, scoring 12 goals across those two tournaments.

Those numbers speak to a player who doesn’t just create, but finishes, and one who consistently delivers on big stages.

A statement of intent from the Bay

For an expansion club still shaping its identity, this move feels pivotal. Bay FC have paid real money for a teenager, handed her a prominent platform, and paired her with a coach known for developing young talent.

The question now is not whether Kennedy Fuller is ready for the NWSL. She has already answered that.

The question is how far she can push Bay FC’s ceiling in 2026 and beyond.