Episode Details

Inside Manaka Matsukubo’s transfer from North Carolina Courage to Chelsea

Published 9 hours ago

Description

The first weekend of the second half of the 2026 NWSL season is in the books. But in classic NWSL fashion, just as we were sitting down to welcome back league play after a 5-week break, there was a major transfer: 2025 Midfielder of the Year and MVP nominee Manaka Matsukubo moved from the North Carolina Courage to Chelsea in the English Women’s Super League.

On this episode of Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits and Meg Linehan are joined by Chief Soccer Officer for the Courage, Ceri Bowley, to go inside Matsukubo’s move. Bowley candidly talks about how close Matsukubo was to staying in North Carolina and why new arrival, 18-year-old England international Erica Meg Parkinson, is a testament to the team’s transfer strategy and ethos.

PLUS: Meg talks about her moment of the opening weekend and what the implications could be for the U.S. women’s national team in the wake of the U.S. president getting involved with FIFA to aid the suspension of the red card for U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun at their home men’s World Cup this summer.

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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan

GUESTS: Ceri Bowley

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Chelsea sign Manaka Matsukubo from North Carolina Courage on five-year deal

Trump’s call to Infantino and plot to ‘free’ Balogun that sparked a huge World Cup controversy

FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s ban damages the integrity of this World Cup

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