FFC Frankfurt have signed Sophie Schmidt, the club have confirmed.

Schmidt signs a one-year deal with the German club, one which expires on June 30 next year.

Schmidt to strengthen Frankfurt's midfield

Frankfurt have been in need of midfield recruits since the departure of Veronica Boquete, who has signed for Frauen-Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich this summer, as well as that of Jess Fishlock, who returned to parent club Seattle Reign in America following a season-long loan with the German side.

Schmidt was previously playing for Sky Blue in the American NWSL, but she opted to sit the 2015 season out to focus on the Women's World Cup in her homeland. With that season due to end in just under two months, she has now chosen to start a fresh campaign with Frankfurt as opposed to joining back up with the New Jersey-based club.

The 27-year-old, who has German ancestors and speaks the country's language thanks to her studies at the University of Portland, has 137 caps for her country and scored against Germany at the end of 2014 in a friendly, though Canada went on to lose the game 2-1.

She will bring top level experience with her to the team, as well as the ability to score and create from midfield as Frankfurt look to retain their UEFA Women's Champions League title and improve on their third place finish in the league last season.

Player and team both thrilled with transfer

Speaking to Frankfurt's official website, both the club and the player expressed their delight with the move that sees Schmidt join the German team.

The player herself admitted that she is "very pleased" with the switch, describing it as "a great honour" to join "the current Champions League winners." She is looking to "integrate [herself] as quickly as possible into the team" and is hoping to "contribute" to success for Frankfurt "in all three competitions" this season.

Manager Colin Bell was full of praise for his new signing, calling her "an experienced personality" who was Canada's "most prominent player" at this summer's World Cup. He cited her "professional attitude" and "tireless fighting spirit" as attributes that will allow her to "[fit] perfectly into [the] team" and "strengthen [the] midfield."

Bell continued, adding that he sees Schmidt as a player who can replace the departed Fishlock, saying that the new signing will "occupy the role" that the Welsh midfielder an "exemplary" job in last season.

Loss of Marozsan to injury weakens midfield again

Whilst the arrival of Schmidt can help Frankfurt strengthen in the middle again, they have suffered another blow in this area on the same day that the Canadian's arrival was announced, with them also revealing via their club website that Dzsenifer Marozsan will miss the start of the season through injury.

Marozsan will undergo surgery on her left ankle on Monday in Frankfurt to treat an injury picked up during the Women's World Cup this summer, and she will be out for at least eight weeks following the treatment.

The problem limited the 23-year-old's involvement with Germany in Canada, though national team manager Silvia Neid did continue to use her regularly as a substitute despite her lack of fitness.

Now, the player's club will suffer as a result, with Marozsan to miss at least the first month of the new season, which begins on the final weekend of August, Bayern kicking things off at home to Turbine Potsdam on Friday 28 August before Frankfurt get their campaign underway with a home fixture against SGS Essen on Sunday 30.

With eight weeks out, Marozsan will miss a crucial meeting with Potsdam in September, and could potentially miss games against Wolfsburg and Bayern the following month if she has not returned to full fitness by then. However, Bell will hope this is not the case, especially with Frankfurt starting their Champions League title defence in October as well.