PAPILLION, Neb. – Union Omaha announced the signing of Nortei Nortey, pending league and federation approval. Nortey is the Owls' first midfield signing of 2024. 

Nortey comes to Omaha by way of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, where he made 64 appearances in two seasons. The Chelsea FC academy product played 2,135 minutes in 2023 with the Hailstorm, helping the defense secure 13 clean sheets and reach the USL League One Playoffs Semifinal. As a valued locker room personality and focal point on the field, Nortey also captained the side ten times during the last campaign.

Nortey spent the 2020–21 season with Queen of the South in the Scottish Championship. He scored his lone goal in a 1-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Feb. 21, and ultimately helped lead the club to a sixth-place finish, its best in three years.

Between 2015 and 2020, Nortey played for five clubs in England's fifth-tier National League. He spent the 2019–20 season with Chorley, the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons with Dover Athletic, the 2016–17 season with Wrexham and Solihull Moors, and the 2015–16 season with Welling United.

Nortey scored eight goals in 160 appearances in the National League, with his best season coming in 2017–18 when he scored five and added two assists for Dover. The Whites came within a solitary point of making the playoffs, finishing tied with seventh-place AFC Fylde on 73 points but having a worse goal differential.

Born in West London, Nortey signed for local club Chelsea FC in 2008 as a 14-year-old. He spent five years in Chelsea's academy and in 2012 helped the Blues win the FA Youth Cup.

"Nortei is a quality, experienced midfielder that's got a good range of passing and great leadership skills,” said Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato. "He's coming off a good second season with Northern Colorado, where he was a captain and established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league. We look forward to the impact he will have in our locker room, on the field and in our community as we work together to build on the success we achieved in 2023."

"I'm very excited to be a part of the Union Omaha family," Nortey said. "Already looking forward to working with my new teammates, the coaching staff, everyone involved at the club and, of course, meeting all our fans. I can’t wait to get started!"