Gotham FC and the club’s World Cup-winning striker Esther González have mutually agreed to terminate the forward’s contract as she “temporarily steps away from soccer to attend to personal matters in Spain,” the club announced Monday.“We wish Esther and her family all the best as they return home to Spain,” Yael Averbuch West, the president of soccer operations at Gotham, said in a statement. “Esther has been a model professional on and off the field, helping us win four major trophies and serving as a respected leader in our team. We thank her for three great years full of world-class moments of brilliance. We will always support Esther wherever her path leads.”The 33-year-old forward joined Gotham midway through the 2023 season, after winning the World Cup with Spain in Australia and New Zealand. She immediately became one of the club’s most influential players, helping Gotham capture its first NWSL title later that year by scoring the championship-winning goal.During her three seasons with the club, González established herself as one of the most prolific scorers in club history. She was a two-time NWSL Best XI selection and a finalist for the 2025 NWSL MVP award. Her 33 goals made her Gotham’s all-time leading scorer, and she helped the club win two championships, including the 2025 NWSL title and the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup.