West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of three-time Czech Footballer of the Year Kateřina Svitková.
Attacking-midfielder Svitková moves to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League after seven years in her native homeland with Slavia Prague.
“I’m very excited to join West Ham,” the 24-year-old told whufc.com. “It’s a very big club, with a big history and in a very nice city. I hope I can help the club to achieve their goals and I hope we will be successful.”
Head coach Matt Beard is thrilled to bring a player of Svitková’s calibre and quality to the Hammers and is looking forward to working with the playmaker through the 2020/21 campaign.
“I’m really excited to work with Katerina,” Beard said. “She is a player I’ve been tracking for some time now and her record at Slavia Prague and at international level speaks for itself.
“She proved herself a key player for club and country from a young age and, from my perspective, she’s going to be a great addition to our team. She creates and scores goals, and she’s got a fantastic work-ethic. I’m really excited to see what she brings to the table for us.”
Born in Plzeň, Svitková spent her formative years as a footballer with local side Viktoria Plzeň – playing in the boys’ teams - before making the switch to Slavia Prague in 2013 as a 17-year-old.
Svitková’s seven-years with Slavia Prague saw the midfielder develop into one of Europe’s finest talents. Establishing herself as a crucial player in the team, Svitková has helped Slavia Prague to win five league titles during her time at the club – in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and in 2020.
The team would also lift two Czech Women’s Cups – in 2014 and 2016 – completing a domestic double in those campaigns.
The midfielder’s excellent goalscoring ability saw Svitková net 188 goals in just 177 appearances for Slavia Prague, ending the 2016/17 and 2017/18 campaigns as the top scorer in the Czech First Division.
The first of Svitková’s Czech Footballer of the Year awards came in 2015 before the midfielder won the honour in back-to-back seasons – 2018 and 2019 – to take her total tally to three.
Svitková was shortlisted alongside some of the world’s finest-ever players, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, in the 2018/19 Champions League Goal of the Season awards. Svitková’s nominated effort was a superb first-time strike from 35 yards in the quarter-finals, against Bayern Munich, which dipped into the top-right corner of the net.
At international level, Svitková made her full senior debut as a 17-year-old for the Czech Republic in February 2014, featuring in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Italy. The playmaker has 31 caps to her name, with 17 goals scored at international level.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to warmly welcome Kateřina to the Club and wish her every success for her career in Claret and Blue.
