Gotham FC news roundup: Mak Whitham's loan deal and Esther González's goodbye

It has been a roller coaster time for NJ/NY Gotham FC. The team is in first place after their recent win against the Houston Dash and has gone 5-1-1 since the season resumed at the beginning of July. Star striker Sam Kerr re-joined the Bats after initially playing back in the Sky Blue FC days, and the club had an incredible game at Citi Field.

But the NJ/NY side also lost Emily Sonnett for the rest of the season to a knee injury, and they are still waiting to hear about Denise O'Sullivan. Plus, Esther González left Gotham due to personal reasons that required her to return to Spain.

Meanwhile, like always, there is so much to talk about. Here is another Gotham FC news roundup.

Gotham FC loans Mak Whitham

In a surprising move, Gotham FC has loaned Mak Whitham to DC Power FC in the Gainbridge Super League. The 16-year-old will join the team through the rest of 2026. The reason the move was agreed to was that DC made sure to include the same U-18 standards that are in the NWSL. This includes "additional provisions around pediatric medical evaluations, facilities and safety assessments and a commitment to establishing long-term development plans for U-18 players entering the league."

Due to her age, it was probably not expected that the Bats would loan her out. However, without a second team, Whitham plays limited minutes, which in turn could stunt her professional growth. Maybe that is why Gotham wanted to loan her out, but took time in finding the perfect spot.

Hence, the club does not want the young player to end up as a failed signing. But she needs to play despite her age. After all, she is not playing with anyone in her age group. Still, the move was not expected. It will be interesting to see whether Whitham gets regular minutes with DC.

Esther González's departure message

After leaving Gotham FC, González has officially posted a goodbye message to the club and the NWSL. She expressed how much she loved her time here and how difficult it was to leave. The Spanish international clearly expressed that her departure was due to personal reasons. The exact reason remains unknown.

Of course, González thanked Gotham FC and the fans, expressing how she felt at home despite being so far away. The Instagram post truly showed how much her time in the NWSL, especially with the NJ/NY side, meant to her. Seeing her words makes it easier to miss the striker even more.

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