Davidson Signs With Swedish Club Mallbackens IF

PITTSBURGH – Former Pitt women’s soccer standout Hailey Davidson has signed a short-term contract through June with Swedish club Mallbackens IF, a member of Elitettan.

“I’m super excited to be joining Mallbackens IF for this spring season and to add to their success they’ve already established together,” Davidson said. “This is a dream come true for me, something that is just beginning to unfold for my future. I love football and have known this dream is something I’ve wanted for a long time. To have the opportunity to learn more and represent Pitt, FC Dallas and myself in another country is great. I want to thank all of the coaches who have believed in me throughout this process, my amazing agent Linus, friends, family, and, of course, the Mallbackens staff for creating this opportunity.”

Davidson will begin playing for Mallbackens on March 22. Mallbackens IF sports manager Christer Eriksson hopes and believes that Davidson can make a big impression on and off the pitch.

“She is a defender or wingback, one really fast player who runs all the time,” Eriksson said. “Just like all American women, she also has a good attitude. I’ve only seen clips, but of that I have seen, it seems to be very high quality. I know that there is interest from all Sweden as well for her.”

Davidson transferred to Pitt to play her final three collegiate seasons after spending her first two at Oklahoma. She started 77 of the 94 collegiate games she played in, logging 6,490 minutes and totaling four goals, eight assists, 16 points, 29 shots and 14 shots on goal. Davidson started 54 of the 56 games she played in at Pitt, registering five assists for five points and compiling six shots, with three coming on goal.

Davidson’s 2022 senior season saw her start  20 of the 22 games she played in. She helped lead Pitt to its most successful season in program history as Panthers won a school-record 14 games, qualified for the ACC and NCAA Championship fields for the first time and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Davidson was a key member of a back line that helped Pitt hold the opposition scoreless in nine games. She played a career-high 1,636 minutes and played the full 90 minutes in seven games, including each of Pitt’s three NCAA Tournament games, and played all 110 minutes at Notre Dame (10/30) in the ACC Championship First Round.

“It’s…