The Washington Spirit are getting their offseason underway by signing one of the best free agents available, former North Carolina Courage midfielder Narumi Miura. The 27-year-old Japanese midfielder is signing a two-year contract, with an option for a third year in 2027. Miura will also occupy an international slot for the Spirit.

Miura started over twenty matches in each of her last two seasons in the NWSL. In that time she teamed with Ireland midfielder Denise O’Sullivan to form the most dynamic midfield duo in the league. Miura combines instinctive defensive awareness with a penchant for winning 1v1 duels and crisp passing to become a standout player in the league straightaway.

With longtime Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan rehabbing an ACL tear in an early October match against Orlando, Washington needed an experienced midfielder to play alongside Hal Hershfelt. Due to Sullivan’s injury, Hershfelt’s role shifted from a box-to-box midfielder, to part of a dual defensive midfield, to lone defensive midfielder. The versatility she displayed fits alongside Miura, who is similarly comfortable in multiple midfield roles.

North Carolina Courage coach Sean Nahas uses a distinctive style heavy in possession which requires a strong defensive midfield with the passing awareness and accuracy to maintain possession for long spells. Miura and O’Sullivan excelled in the roles, and last season the Courage led the NWSL in average possession per 90, with 57%.

While the skills Miura has already shown are reason enough to be ecstatic about this signing, there’s also the sense that she can round out her game even more within the Spirit’s style and coaching under Jonatan Giráldez. Miura produced 28 key passes (passes leading directly to a shot), one goal and three assists in her first season in 2023, but this past season only managed 13 key passes and posted zero goals and assists. Part of that could be the absence of Kerolin, though only one of Miura’s assists in 2023 was to the Brazilian star who won MVP that season.

The Spirit’s style should be a perfect fit to give Miura more freedom on the ball. “I am looking forward to a new journey with this team and to meeting the fans in DC,” Miura said in the press release announcing her signing, “let’s go Spirit!” She’s excited, I’m smug and very excited, and you should be excited. Rowdy Audi, when it’s time, give her the welcome she deserves.

Photo courtesy of Narumi Miura’s Instagram account.