Israeli soccer prospect Noa Selimhodzic signed with Italian giants AC Milan's women's team on Wednesday, becoming the first Israeli player to don the Rossoneri's black and red kit.
The 17-year-old Israel women's national team midfielder, arriving from Maccabi Emek Hefer, has signed a contract until 30 June 2024 and will wear the number 17 shirt, according to a club statement.
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Israeli soccer player Noa Selimhodzic donning an AC Milan kit in a promotional photo released by the Italian club
(Photo: AC Milan)
"I am on kind of an adrenaline rush," Selimhodzic told Kan Public Radio on Thursday. "Milan plays at the highest level possible. It brings me such joy to be accepted here. I guess this is where I was meant to end up."
The gifted teenager had trained with the UK's Chelsea at 15 and later tried out for Spain's Atlético Madrid.
Speaking to Ynet's sister publication Yedioth Ahronoth in a 2019 interview, Selimhodzic opened up about her love for the game.
"My father and brothers always played soccer and I would get in their way," she said. "They would hand me a ball and send me off to play by myself on the sidelines. But slowly they began to realize how much I wanted to play and how dearly I loved the sport."
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Selimhodzic during her try-out period for Spanish side Atlético Madrid
(Photo: Reuven Schwartz)
When asked at the time where she saw herself in ten years' time, the fresh Rossonera said she hoped to represent her country and bring the national team to new sporting heights.
Milan are currently ranked third in the Italian women's top flight, or Serie A Women, after six matchdays, with former striker Maurizio Ganz's side trailing leaders Juventus and Sassuolo by five points.