Celia Jiménez Delgado Loaned to Olympique Lyonnais

OL Reign defender Celia Jiménez Delgado has joined Division 1 Féminine side and sister club Olympique Lyonnais on loan, the club announced today.

Jiménez Delgado’s loan is set to run through June 2021.

Lyon is a powerhouse in European women’s soccer, having recently claimed their record fifth consecutive UEFA Women’s Champions League title on August 30. The club dominates French play, winning 14 consecutive French league titles and eight of the last nine Coupe de France trophies.

The Spanish international defender, 25, has amassed 23 caps for the Spanish Women’s National Team, and was a member of Spain’s Women’s World Cup squads in 2015 and 2019.

Jiménez Delgado made four appearances for OL Reign at the NWSL Challenge Cup, including two starts. She joined OL Reign in 2019 after being drafted by the club in the fourth round of the 2018 NWSL College Draft. In her debut season, Jiménez Delgado made 12 appearances, scoring the game-winning goal against Portland on July 5.

“I appreciate the Reign making it possible for me to pursue this opportunity with OL,” said Jiménez Delgado. “This experience will support my desire to continue learning and growing as a player. I am grateful for this opportunity and know it will make me a more impactful player for OL Reign when I return to the club in 2021.”