Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan signs lucrative contract extension with France’s Lyon

Buchanan has played the last two seasons with Lyon. After turning heads at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, she has become one of the world’s elite centre backs — combining athleticism and a hard physical edge.

Buchanan, who has won 76 caps for Canada, became the first Canadian international to hoist the Champions League trophy in June 2017 when Lyon defeated Paris Saint-Germain 7-6 in a penalty shootout in the final of European women’s club soccer showcase.

It completed a treble for Lyon, which also won the French Cup and league title.

This season, Lyon won the league and Champions League but lost the French Cup 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain.

Buchanan played in the French Cup final but was on the bench for the 4-1 Champions League final win over VfL Wolfsburg.

Naigeon said a concussion suffered with Canada caused her to miss some games this season.

Growing up, Buchanan played striker but switched to midfield and then defender at the U-15, U-16 level. She was a star at West Virginia where as a senior she won the 2016 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy as the top U.S. women’s college player.

The only other Canadian woman to win the MAC Hermann Trophy is Christine Sinclair.

In 2017, Buchanan won Canadian female player of the year honours for the second time in three years.

Buchanan’s mother had seven daughters, with Kadeisha the youngest. Two others played soccer and Buchanan says they made her “tougher, faster, stronger, smarter.”

Family is key. She has the word tattooed on her forearm. “I keep them at arm’s reach,” she said.

Lyon is a women’s soccer powerhouse. It has won 12 straight French titles and three consecutive European crowns. Prior to this year’s loss in the final, it had won eight straight French Cups.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan signs lucrative contract extension with France’s Lyon

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