Courtney Ruedt, a former Columbia University women’s soccer player and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, has signed her first professional contract with HB Køge in Denmark. The agreement is for one year and will last through the summer of 2026.
Ruedt expressed enthusiasm about joining the Danish club. “I’m beyond excited to sign with HB Køge,” she said. “It is a privilege to join a club with such a strong vision and winning mentality. I can’t wait to challenge myself and grow both as a player and a person.”
Originally from New Jersey, Ruedt received an offer from HB Køge earlier this month. She credited her coaches at Columbia for supporting her ambition to play professionally.
Walid Khoury, Sporting Director for HB Køge Women, commented on the signing: “Courtney is a talented and ambitious player who fits our club’s values both on and off the pitch. Her mentality, work ethic, and leadership qualities will make her a valuable asset to our squad and culture.”
During her final season at Columbia, Ruedt started all 16 games, contributing to six shutouts by the Lions’ defense. The team recorded shutout wins against Penn and Dartmouth in Ivy League matches. Ruedt also scored once in a 4-1 victory over Cornell and took nine shots throughout the season.
In 2023, she played an important role in helping Columbia achieve ten shutouts. That year, she was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy and selected for the Ivy League All-Tournament Team after aiding the Lions in their first NCAA Tournament win over Rutgers.
Over her collegiate career, Ruedt appeared in 50 games with 48 starts, accumulating more than 4,200 minutes on the field.
For updates on Columbia women’s soccer, fans can follow @CULionsWSOC on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer or visit GoColumbiaLions.com.
