Esme Morgan has just been to Trader Joe’s looking for oil, salt and pepper.
“I had to do my grocery shop,” the Sheffield-born defender tells The Athletic, air quoting as she says the final two words. “I’m being quite stubborn and trying to keep most of my words. I’ve not had to say the ‘s-word’ so far.”
It’s still football, not soccer. An s-word that has caused confusion, though, is squash. Morgan pulled up pictures of Robinsons blackcurrant squash, a well-known concentrated fruit drink in the UK, but her new Washington Spirit team-mates stared back blankly, explaining there was no equivalent. A quick online order solved that issue.
Morgan’s thirst has been accentuated by the humidity in Washington D.C., a stark contrast to the Mancunian drizzle she had left behind. The muggy weather made her mile time trial — a test as part of her integration into training — that bit harder, but she is enjoying stepping out in just a T-shirt and shorts.
These are just some differences the 23-year-old is adapting to since leaving Manchester City, where she spent nine years before signing for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Washington Spirit on a three-year deal this summer, turning July into a whirlwind for Morgan.
Having qualified for the 2025 European…
