Manchester United Women

Women’s fixtures for 2018/19 released, City react to Nadia Nadim’s transfer request

August 1, 2018 by Paul Chan

Manchester United Women will begin their inaugural season with a Continental Tyres League Cup game against Liverpool after fixtures for the season were announced.

The game, which will be played at Prenton Park on August 19, kicks off a season in the second tier of women’s football for the Reds as they seek to join rivals Manchester City in the top flight.

United’s first league fixture is away at Aston Villa on Sunday, September 9 while they will welcome Sheffield United to Leigh Sports Village on Thursday, September 20.

Manchester City Women will begin their league season with a trip to Kingsmeadow to face Champions Chelsea on Sunday, September 9, a tough start to the new WSL season.

Their first home league fixture will be against Bristol City at the Academy Stadium on Sunday, September 23.

City have been active in the transfer market with the signings of Tessa Wullaert, Lauren Hemp, Caroline Weir and Gemma Bonner offset by the departures of Tessel Middag, Jane Ross, Ella Toone, and Izzy Christiansen.

Christiansen joined former City team mate Lucy Bronze at Champions League winners Olympique Lyon after spells out of the team last season.

The England midfielder, who scored 32 goals in 110 appearances for the Blues, also represented England – scoring on her full debut during a Euro 2017 qualifier against Estonia.

Nadia Nadim with Manchester City Women manager Nick Cushing

City suffered a further blow this week when Danish striker Nadia Nadim handed in a transfer request, claiming she “doesn’t feel at home” in Manchester.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Nadim also said that “I’ve never felt home either in Manchester or Man City.

“I have made it very clear to the management that I want out, and this is something I’ve felt for a long time.”

City boss Nick Cushing claimed the club would ‘find a solution’ to Nadim’s transfer request but would not confirm if the 30-year old’s transfer request would be granted.

Manchester United announce squad for the FA Women’s Championship – including Katie Zelem and Ella Toone

July 13, 2018 by Paul Chan

Manchester United have announced the squad for their women’s team to compete in the forthcoming season in the FA Women’s Championship and former midfielder Katie Zelem has rejoined the Reds.

The team will be led by former England international Casey Stoney in the club’s first campaign in the new reformed Championship.

Commenting on the squad that has been built-up, Stoney said: “We’ve gone young, we’ve gone exciting, we’ve gone entertaining.

“I’m more than aware that we’re bringing 21 strangers together but I’m really excited about the squad and the future of this team.“

The Reds have certainly made moves to sign a lot of talented players in a short space of time after being

United’s women’s team will be captained by Alex Greenwood, the 24 year old left back joined from Liverpool and has captained England at youth level.

She joins a United side which has been bolstered by a number of former Reds who left the Old Trafford set-up when there was no path to a senior women’s team after the age of 16 including Zelem, Emily Ramsey, Naomi Hartley, Fran Bentley, Millie Turner, Kirsty Hanson, and Ella Toone.

https://twitter.com/katiezel/status/1017763710117523456

Oldham-born midfielder, Katie Zelem, 22, left Juventus after just one season in which she won the league in Italy to rejoin the Reds – the team where she began her football education.

Zelem said on Twitter that she was delighted to be joining United, saying: “Over the moon to announce that I’ve signed for Manchester United, adding: “Returning back to the club where it all started for me was a huge opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

“I’m excited to be back where I belong and continue on the journey I had to leave many years ago.”

Zelem, who has yet to earn a senior England cap, has taken the number 10 shirt for the inaugural season with United.

Former Manchester City forward Ella Toone has also rejoined the Reds and has been handed the number 7 shirt.

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN’S TEAM SQUAD 2018/19

Goalkeepers

1 – Siobhan Chamberlain

13 – Emily Ramsey

22 – Fran Bentley

Defenders

2 – Martha Harris

3 – Alex Greenwood

4 – Amy Turner

12 – Naomi Hartley

15 – Lucy Roberts

20 – Kirsty Smith

Midfielders

6 – Aimee Palmer

8 – Mollie Green

10 – Katie Zelem

14 – Charlie Devlin

16 – Lauren James

17 – Lizzie Arnot

21 – Millie Turner

Forwards

7 – Ella Toone

9 – Jess Sigsworth

11 – Leah Galton

18 – Kirsty Hanson

19 – Ebony Salmon

Manchester United win licence to field team in FA Women’s Championship next season

May 28, 2018 by Paul Chan

Manchester United have successfully won a licence to establish a professional women’s team in the FA Women’s Championship, starting later this year.

The team will be called “Manchester United Women” and will be based at The Cliff – the club’s historic training ground in Salford, once redevelopment work has been completed.

Speaking of the successful application, Manchester United’s Executive Vice Chairman, Ed Woodward, commented:

“The board is delighted that the FA has approved the application. The new women’s team will build on the success of the Girls’ Regional Talent Club and have the same philosophy as all Manchester United sides, creating a pathway from academy to first team.

“We will be making some exciting announcements in the coming days and weeks. Starting a professional team from scratch is challenging but rewarding and we will make every effort to provide the support and experience for the new women’s team to be successful and to uphold the fine traditions of our great club.”

The FA approved the return of United, after a 13 year absence, to senior women’s football in the 12-team second tier of Women’s football in England after another restructure where they will reportedly be joined by Charlton, Leicester City, Lewes, and Sheffield United.

The Reds are widely expected to be managed by former England international Casey Stoney, who won 130 caps and is currently part of Phil Neville’s England Women’s national team setup as a coach.

The new top flight division – to be renamed the FA Women’s Super League – will become an 11 team league containing full time professional clubs and West Ham United will move to join Manchester City Women and newly crowned – and renamed – WSL champions Chelsea Women for the start of the new season.

Below the second tier FA Women’s Championship will be a regionally split FA Women’s National League North and South while a fourth tier is divided into four regions and will also adopt FA Women’s National League One branding.