Manchester City’s Women’s team have been boosted by the signing of England U19 international forward Lauren Hemp.
Hemp is the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year this season and joins from Bristol City Women, where she spent two years playing for the Vixens, scoring nine times during the 2017/18 season and was previously the England Young player of the Year in 2017.
The 17-year-old forward will take the number 15 shirt, previously worn by Swedish attacking midfielder Julia Spetsmark.
Encouraged by the opportunities afforded by young players at City, Hemp was excited by the opportunity to play for the club, saying:
“I’m very excited to be here, it’s a massive opportunity for me and I just can’t wait to get started. It’s always been Man City I’ve wanted to go to and to have this opportunity is a dream come true and to have it so early, I just can’t wait.
“The facilities are amazing, the atmosphere seems so nice, and the environment and all the people and players…they’re all my role models and for them to now be my teammates I just can’t wait.
“Coming here is a massive step for me. Taking everything in, learning every day, learning from the players, learning from the staff, just taking everything in and hopefully becoming a better player.
“I’m looking forward to working with the more experienced players, like Steph (Houghton) and Nikita Parris, because they’re the ones from a young age I’ve looked up to, want to be like, and now to actually be on the pitch with them each week will be an honour for me.
“Watching the likes of Georgia Stanway and Ellie Roebuck getting first team minutes helped me make that decision to come here.”
Hemp added that her hope was to add to the competition for a place in the side and ultimately get into the England team, emphasising her creativity, goalscoring, running at players and putting crosses in for the strikers as City look to regain the title from Chelsea Women next season.
Hemp earned her first England call-up at Under-15 level before going on to captain the side at the UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship in 2017, earning 13 appearances at England U17 level and scoring four goals in 7 appearances at U19 level as well as going on to represent the Lionesses at Under-18 and Under-20 level.