Fort Lauderdale United FC released the signing of their second defensive player, Celia Gaynor, to their roster for the 2024 inaugural USL Super League season.
As a native of Shelby Township, Michigan, Gaynor returned to Michigan for her last two collegiate seasons after playing at Butler University for three years.
She joined her sister, Justina, on the Michigan State University’s roster as a vital defender. Shortly after she arrived at MSU, Gaynor appeared in all 23 matches and started in 22 of them.
Gaynor showcased her duality as a player in 2022 by totaling 1,425 minutes on the field as a defender while also scoring pivotal goals that helped bring her team to victory, such as scoring the game-winning goal versus Northwestern.
Continuing to spark in 2023, Gaynor kept tallying minutes and goals for MSU. She scored a penalty kick goal to secure MSU’s second-straight Big-Ten conference title over Iowa. She ended her collegiate career as First-Team All-Big Ten, Third-Team United Soccer Coaches All-Region, Academic All-Big Ten and CSC Academic All-District. Gaynor was also drafted in the fourth round of the NWSL earlier this year, taken as the third pick in the round and 45th overall by the Chicago Red Stars.
Gaynor is set to make her professional debut a part of Fort Lauderdale United FC’s roster this August, helping to create an invincible defense.