Manchester City today confirmed the signing of Lucy Bronze who will return to the Academy Stadium after a trophy laden spell at Lyon.
The right back, 28, returns to England after three years in France where she won three consecutive UEFA Women’s Champions League titles, three Division 1 Feminine League titles, two Coupe de France Feminine trophies and a Trophee des Championnes.
Bronze originally played for City between 2014 and August 2017, lifting the WSL title and League Cup double in 2016 plus a further FA Cup and League Cup during her first spell with City.
She was also named PFA Women’s Players; Player of the Year, FA WSL Player’s Player of the Year, and Manchester City Women’s Player of the Season.
On the international stage, Bronze helped the Lionesses to a third place finish in the 2015 Women’s World Cup – and a place in the tournament’s All-Star Squad.
Bronze, who will wear the number 20 shirt for the forthcoming season, rejoins a squad bolstered by world class talent including two USWNT players – Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle.
Speaking on her return to Manchester, Bronze said: “I’m really happy to be back here at City – I always had it in my mind that I would return one day, and it just feels like the perfect time and opportunity right now.
“I really enjoyed my time in France, but there were so many things that I missed and it’s great to be back.
“I feel like I’m returning as a better leader and person who is capable of bringing similar success to the table here in England both domestically with City and internationally too.
“Having already experienced everything that City has to offer as a Club, it was a no brainer for me when the offer came in and there isn’t another team in England that I would have looked at.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than with Manchester City and I’m really excited to see what the future holds with the exciting squad we have here.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see Lucy return to Manchester City and I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that we’re delighted to have her back at the Club.
“She is an unrivalled talent and her endless individual and team awards only scratch the surface of what a superb player she is, not only at Club level, but also internationally with England.
“She joins us off the back of a hugely successful few years in France and being able to add a player of her quality to our already ambitious squad is incredibly exciting.”
Head of Women’s Football Gavin Makel was pleased to see the return of a focused player like Bronze, adding: “Lucy has received many accolades over the years, and rightly so.
“What impresses me most about her however is that despite what she has already achieved in the game, she still maintains that hunger for even more success whilst having the desire to continue to develop.
“That sheer focus and mentality is one of the main reasons why she is regarded as one of the best players in the world and I couldn’t be happier to welcome her back to the Club.”