Wisconsin Soccer Central

Just as she has done each of the past two years, Sarah Hagen (Appleton North/UW-Milwaukee) will return to the U.S. this summer after Bayern Munich finishes up its Frauen-Bundesliga season in Germany.

But this time the trip won't be a holiday between seasons. In fact, she'll be jumping right into another season.

Hagen has signed with FC Kansas City of the National Women's Soccer League and will join the team when her contract with Bayern Munich expires in June, the team announced Thursday.

The 5-foot-11 forward is fourth in the Frauen-Bundesliga with nine goals in 12 matches this season, and she has 40 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions since joining Bayern Munich in January 2012.

“I've had such a great experience here at Bayern," Hagen said in a news release. “However, I've also made many sacrifices by choosing to be thousands of miles away from my family and friends. For me, this is the biggest reason in returning back to the States to play. I'm still very much focused on finishing out my season here with Bayern, but am also looking forward to starting a new chapter in my career at Kansas City.”

The 24-year-old Hagen, who ranks ninth in NCAA Division I women's history with 93 goals for UW-Milwaukee (in 86 matches), earned her first two caps for the U.S. women's national team earlier this month at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, coming on in matches against Sweden and Denmark.

“There's a reason why Sarah is seen as one of this country’s top prospects,” FC Kansas City director of soccer operations Huw Williams said. “She had an outstanding collegiate career before going to Bayern to hone her craft. She has the potential to be a difference-maker in this league, and we are excited she will be doing it in Kansas City.”

FC Kansas City finished second among eight teams in the inaugural NWSL regular season last year with a 11-6-5 record, and lost to eventual champion Portland Thorns FC 3-2 after extra time in the playoff semifinals. Eleven of their 24 matches this season are after June 8, which is Bayern Munich's final game of its 2013-14 season.

On Twitter: @sarahapplehagen

• Central defender Jay DeMerit (Green Bay/Bay Port) won't play for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Saturday's Major League Soccer match at the New England Revolution. No need to worry, though: The 34-year-old isn't injured – he tweeted Thursday that he is simply being rested. On Twitter: @D6MERIT