- Utah Royals traded Ally Sentnor to Kansas City for a record $600,000 fee.
- The deal includes a conditional $100,000 and a 20% future transfer sell-on clause.
- Sentnor, a former No. 1 pick, leaves Utah with four goals and five assists.
SALT LAKE CITY — It appears another Utah team has entered the rebuilding phase.
The Utah Royals traded former NWSL No. 1 overall pick Ally Sentnor to the Kansas City Current Friday for a record intra-league transfer fee of $600,000, which is also the sixth-highest transfer in women's soccer history. The deal includes a conditional $100,000 and an additional sell-on clause for any future transfer, reported by ESPN to be 20%.
"The club could not be more appreciative of everything that Ally brought to Utah, and she will always represent the heart of what it means to be a Royals player," sporting director Kelly Cousins said. "Her infectious personality and incredible talent won over the locker room even faster than it did the Royals' fan base. Now that it's time to say goodbye, we wish her nothing but the best of luck in her career."
The attacking midfielder was taken at the top of the now-extinct NWSL draft in 2024 by the Royals ahead of their first season back in Utah and signed a three-year contract with the team.
Sentnor was 19 when she arrived in Salt Lake City following her breakout freshman year at the University of North Carolina and leaves as a 21-year-old reigning U.S. Young Female Player of the Year.
Sentnor broke out for the U.S. women's national team in 2025 with her first goal during the SheBelieves Cup in February and a brace against Jamaica in a June friendly. The Athletic first reported the trade, also saying that the Royals entertained offers from several NWSL teams this summer following the international breakout.
Utah now has until Aug. 25, when the NWSL transfer window closes, to flip the funds received and replace Sentnor's production as a key starter and offensive focal point. She put up four goals and five assists across 31 games in a Utah uniform.
"Thank you to the Royals for drafting this small town girl and giving me the opportunity to start a lifelong dream of playing professional soccer," Sentnor said. "This community is special, and full of kind, loving, and supportive people. I'm so grateful that I was able to be a part of it, and you will continue to inspire me.
"The friends and relationships I have built here will last a lifetime," Sentnor continued. "I have so much love for you all! Even though my time at Utah has come to an end, I'll be cheering for each of you and celebrating all of your success."
The NWSL season resumes this weekend after a month-long break, with Kansas City playing Louisville on Friday and Utah traveling to Orlando on Sunday. The Royals sit in last place in the league standings with one win, 10 losses and two draws with 13 games remaining in the 26-game season.
