Tag: Manchester City Women

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WSL

Manchester City undergo more exits than entries for 2026/27

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Photo from @bethmead on Instagram

Manchester City have been flying under the radar with more players leaving than coming. Only two new signings will join the Sky Blues. Both being players who had large impacts against City while at their former clubs.

One retirement struck Man City, as Laura Coombs announced her retirement from football altogether. The 35-year-old has played for a wide range of clubs in England, having started her professional career in 2007 for Arsenal. Since then she has also played for Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Liverpool and finally Manchester City. A lasting impact was made throughout her career as a steady contributor in the midfield as she succeeded whenever she got called upon. Also playing for England, Coombs made appearances in two group stage matches during the 2023 World Cup, where England reaches the finals.

Four youngsters mark their exits from the club, each of which went on their own loans last season and look for more gametime and development as players.  Codie Thomas departs from her childhood club after spending over ten years at the club.  The move to Nottingham Forest will serve vital to her career, as the 19-year-old fullback struggled to compete against more experienced fullbacks such as Kerstin Casparij. Poppy Pritchard completed her move to Leicester City after a loans to Durham and Celtic last season. Pritchard has signed a three-year deal for the foxes.

Tara O’Hanlon also underwent two loans last season, spending the first half at Sunderland, and the latter half with teammate Pritchard at Celtic. O’Hanlon struggled to find her footing at Manchester City following a MCL tear, and a tear in her calf prior to the 2025/26 season. The young defender has joined Wolves having no senior appearances for Manchester City, hoping to have a more stable at Wolves. Lily Murphy has joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan after making 22 appearances for City since signing her professional contract in 2024.

Goalkeepers have made their exits from the club, with Eve Annets, Katie Startup and Khiara Keating leaving. Khiara Keating’s exit hits hard as she leaves with the expiration of her contract. Keating became City’s first-choice goalkeeper in 2023-24 as she won the WSL Golden Glove, but then struggled to fight for gametime against Ayaka Yamashita. The 22-year-old has also starred for her country, often being called up by Wiegman for England.

Katie Startup made her way into Man City’s squad as an emergency loan in the 2023/24 season coming from Everton, before joining on a permanent basis. This transfer means that Startup will hopefully increase her gametime as she joins Birmingham City. The final move from between the posts is Eve Annets’ loan to the Scottish WPL side Hibernian. Despite being signed with City for two seasons, Annets has yet to make an appearance for the club, having had gone on loan each season she’s spent at the club.

A centre back exit is from Naomi Layzell who has joined Everton on a season long loan, last season Layzell struggled to establish herself as a starting centre-back, having to face Knaack and Greenwood for the position. Consistent injury struggles also shortened her season with a hip surgery in December of 2025. Joining this exit is Spaniard Leila Ouahabi who has been a trusted player for Jergletz’ defence. With the conclusion of her contract, Ouahabi moves to the NWSL as she penned a three-year deal with Chicago Stars. The left-back spent four years at Manchester City and so, established herself as a regular starter for the club.

Undoubtably the name that has made the most headlines this transfer window is Kerolin Nicoli, who has left Manchester City for FC Barcelona with a record breaking fee of £1.28m, removing Arsenal’s fee for Olivia Smith from the top spot. Kerolin signed for City in January 2025 from the NWSL. Scoring 9 goals in 15 matches, Kerolin’s transfer will be noticed.

Two new signings both hail from London, with Beth Mead from Arsenal joining the frontline, and Chelsea’s Niamh Charles reinforcing the backline. Widely regarded as one of England’s best forwards, Mead pens a three-year deal, inevitably planning to make her mark on her new club. Mead’s perseverance and consistency has made her a country favourite, making her mark in Sarina Wiegman’s starting line-ups helping the Lionesses to European Championship triumph in 2022 and 2025.

Chelsea’s Niamh Charles has also has high levels of success with England internationally. Having won the WSL with Chelsea 5 times, Charles’ experience and versatility will come strongly into play. Held back by ankle issues, Charles struggled with game time last season, however her abilities do not only rely on defending as she scored a vital penalty in the 2025 Euros final, bringing the victory to England.

 

Overall, Manchester City are expected to make remaining signings, to cover for losses between the posts, as they currently have Cummings and Yamashita in the position.

 

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Uncategorized

Bragging rights shared in a Battle of the English and European Champions 

photo taken from @mancitywomen on X

Manchester City came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Barcelona as European and League Champions faced off against each other at the Joie Stadium. Vicky Lopez, Caroline Graham Hansen, Grace Clinton and Alex Greenwood were all on the scoresheet with many youngsters making their mark in the first team. 

Barcelona kicked off the match and were quick off the blocks. An early chance from Ewa Pajor within the first minute saw the effort go over the bar but in five minutes, Caroline Graham Hansen got the opener. Manchester City continually played out from the back in the opening minutes which helped Hansen and gave her the opportunity to score. Vicky Lopez found Hansen in space and her shot from just outside the box found the bottom left corner, giving the European Champions the lead. 

Since the opener, both sides had chances with Barcelona having more of the two. Caroline Graham Hansen and Claudia Pina for Barcelona and Sam Coffey for Manchester City all had chances before a second for Barcelona went in, in the 24th minute. After bringing the ball into the attacking third all the way down the pitch, Vicky Lopez slotted it to Hansen to adjust her position and then around 12 yards out, Lopez fired it into the left side of the net.  

Half an hour in, the link up from last season that everyone knew so well struck again as Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw linked up. A cross from Hemp on the left side found the head of Shaw but went over and failed to find the back of the net. In the 42nd minute, there were blocks from Rebecca Knaak and Alex Greenwood back to back to help prevent a third for Barcelona. 

Half-time: Manchester City 0-2 Barcelona 

Manchester City needed a reaction in the second half and they did just that. 4 minutes into the half saw Aoba Fujino have a shot on goal but a block from Sydney made it loop over the bar. Sprinting from the half way line, Bunny Shaw found Alex Greenwood in the middle and her shot from around 12 yards out found the back of the net in the 57th minute, halving the deficit. 

10 minutes later saw the equaliser from Grace Clinton as her attempt from over 12 yards out found the bottom right corner of the net. Mary Fowler saw the midfielder coming into the space and her shot beat the recent substitute, Gemma in goal. After the changes, Manchester City improved massively with youngster Freya Hirons having an impact during her home debut. 

Full-time: Manchester City 2-2 Barcelona 

What’s next for both teams: 

After preseason, both teams focus on their respective league competitions. Manchester City will host Birmingham City first on Sunday 6th September in the WSL with kick off commencing at 2:30PM. Meanwhile for Barcelona, they have their first game a week prior to the WSL on the 30th August. They are set to host CD Tenerife with a kick off commencing at 6PM. 

Starting 11: 

Manchester City: Yamashita (Cuming 62’), Casparij (Lewis 62’), Rose (Prior 62’), Knaak (Davies 62’), Greenwood © (Shimizu 62’), Coffey (Hasegawa 46’), Blindkilde Brown, Fujino (Davis 62’), Clinton (Burdon 80’), Hemp (Fowler 62’), Shaw (Hirons 62’). 

Unused Substitutes: Walker. 

Goals: Greenwood (57’), Clinton (67’)

Barcelona: Cata Coll (Gemma Font 57’), Martina Fernández (Marta Torrejón 57’), Irene Paredes (Charlotta 57’), Van Asten (Maria Ll 76’), Esmee Brugts (Daniela 76’), Vicky López (Carolina 57’), Sydney Schertenleib (Lua Arufe 76’), Parti Guijarro (Bea Pérez 76’), Claudia Pina (Elena Vizuete 57’), Caroline Graham Hansen (Liv 76’), Ewa Pajor (Mayssa 76’). 

Goals: Graham (5’), VIcky (24’) 

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FA Cup

Rise, Fall and Rise again of Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup. 

Joie Stadium | Photo taken from @mancitywomen on X 

Six years on since they last won the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, Manchester City won the trophy again and managed a league double for the first time in their history. Since their last Women’s FA Cup win, they have only returned on one occasion and since then they have failed to return to the home of football. 

2019/20: Winners

Manchester City faced Everton in the final at Wembley which was held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. After extra time, the Cityzens won 3-1 with goals from Georgia Stanway (111’) and Janine Beckie (now Sonis) (120+2’) in added time. Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, the final was hosted later on in the year in November with the game also being shown on BBC One at the time. 

From the Starting 11, Alex Greenwood is the only one to have stayed with the Sky Blue with many of the squad retiring, have left the league or alternatively moved to a different club in the Women’s Super League. 

Starting 11: Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Sam Mewis, Keira Walsh, Caroline Weir, Chloe Kelly (Janine Beckie 118’), Ellen White (Georgia Stanway 63’), Rose Lavelle (Jess Park 70’). 

Unused Subs: Karen Bardsley, Karima Benameur Taieb, Gemma Bonner, Laura Coombs, Jill Scott, Esme Morgan. 

2020/21: Semi- Finals

Manchester City faced Chelsea in the Semi-final stages at the Joie Stadium (then known as the Academy Stadium) where 1,343 fans saw Chelsea head to the finals. Goals from Erin Cuthbert, Melanie Leupolz and Beth England helped the side head to the finals, with Manchester City bowing out at that stage after winning the previous season. 

An injury hit side saw a change in a number of positions throughout the season with Goalkeeper Grace Pilling involved in the squad. She stayed in and around the first team for the next few seasons (alongside dual-registration at a number of lower-league sides) before heading out to America for College. 

Starting 11: Karima Benameur, Janine Beckie, Demi Stokes, Keira Walsh (Vicky Losada 67’), Jill Scott, Alex Greenwood, Laura Coombs, Caroline Weir, Khadija Shaw (Jess Park 45’), Lauren Hemp.

Unused Subs: Hayley Raso, Filippa Angeldahl, Grace Pilling. 

2021/22: Finalists

Manchester City were in the final again after a year away but faced Chelsea who won the previous year against Arsenal. The game went to extra time and on this occasion, Chelsea got the upper hand in extra time as the side won 3-2. 49.094 fans were in attendance at Wembley (the highest crowd at the time) with goals from Lauren Hemp (42’) and Hayley Raso (89’) helping the side get to extra time. 

The side that headed back to Wembley included a number of new faces who were heading to the home of football for the first time. Meanwhile, several England internationals went to the biggest stage before returning later that year for the Women’s European Championship Final. From the squad that headed down to London, 13 players have since played for England (or were playing at the time for them). 

Starting 11: Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Alanna Kennedy, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes (Julie Blakstad 83’), Georgia Stanway (Laura Coombs 80’), Keira Walsh (Vicky Losada 119’), Caroline Weir, Chloe Kelly (Hayley Raso 76’), Bunny Shaw (Ellen White 80’), Lauren Hemp.

Unused Subs: Filippa Angeldahl, Jess Park, Ruby Mace, Khiara Keating. 

Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, 2022 | photo taken from @alexgreenwood5 on instagram

2022/23: Quarter-Finals

After their second place the year prior, the side looked to improve that year, but managed to exit in the Quarter-final stages against Aston Villa. After an extra time goal from Rachel Daly, the Cityzens were going backwards since their win in 2020 and becoming finalists the year before. 

The starting 11 that started the game was something Manchester City fans were getting used to as they continued to build on the strong squad as a whole, with substitutes only coming on during Extra-time. Something to note though is the fact that all the unused substitutes have now moved on to different clubs, with many of the starting 11 also doing the same. 

Starting 11: Ellie Roebuck, Esme Morgan, Laia Aleixandri (Laura Coombs 105’), Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood, Yui Hasegawa, Deyna Castellanos (Mary Fowler 105’), Lauren Hemp (Hayley Raso 113’), Chloe Kelly, Filippa Angeldahl, Khadija Shaw. 

Unused Subs: Sandy MacIver, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton, Leila Ouahabi, Alanna Kennedy, Julie Blakstad. 

2023/24: Quarter-Finals 

For the second time in two seasons, Manchester City bowed out in the Quarter-Final stages as they lost on penalties to the eventual finalists, Tottenham Hotspur. After an early lead from Mary Fowler in the sixth minute, Beth England equalised in the sixth minute of added time with Amy James-Turner getting the deciding penalty in. 

Despite bowing out at the same stage they did the previous season, there was a very similar lineup that was put out apart from the notable absentee of Ellie Roebuck (who later announced she was battling with a left occipital infarct injury). 

Starting 11: Khiara Keating, Kerstin Casparij, Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood, Leila Ouahabi (Esme Morgan 73’), Filippa Angeldahl, Yui Hasegawa, Jess Park (Chloe Kelly 91’), Mary Fowler, Khadija Shaw (Laura Coombs 71’), Lauren Hemp. 

Unused Subs: Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton, Sandy MacIver, Ruby Mace, Alanna Kennedy. 

2024/25: Semi-Finals 

Manchester City returned to the Semi-Final stage in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup but failed to secure their place in the final as their rivals, Manchester United won 2-0. Goals from Celin Bizet and Grace Clinton within the first 22 minutes helped the side secure their third successive final appearance but for Manchester City, it was back to the drawing board. 

After an injury hit season, this game was the same as a very weak bench had two goalkeepers and two youngsters, with two more youngsters starting the game. Gracie Prior played a lot of the season as centre back and played a pivotal role throughout. More injuries came for the side as Mary Fowler ruptured her ACL just 25 minutes in, and returned halfway through the 25/26 season. 

Starting 11: Khiara Keating, Leila Ouahabi, Laia Aleixandri, Gracie Prior, Kerstin Casparij, Yui Hasegawa, Lily Murphy (Laura Wienroither 82’), Laura Coombs, Jess Park, Kerolin, Mary Fowler (Naomi Layzell 25’) 

Unused Subs: Sacha Lewis, Aemu Oyama, Katie Startup, Ayaka Yamashita. 

2025/26: Winners

Manchester City were back to winning ways in the FA Cup this season as they won 4-0 against Brighton. 43,917 fans were in attendance for the final (which was the lowest it has been since 2021) as the side won in the 90 minutes for the first time since 2019. Goals from Bunny Shaw (38’), Alex Greenwood (45+6’), Aoba Fujino (66’) and Vivianne Miedema (87’) helped the side win their first FA Cup since 2020. 

Manchester City got back to the high of 2020 after beating a tricky Chelsea side in the Semi-final. Andrée Jeglertz kept with a very similar side throughout all the campaigns that they competed in with substitutes being used when needed throughout, for freshness. 

Starting 11: Ayaka Yamashita, Kerstin Casparij, Jade Rose, Rebecca Knaak, Alex Greenwood, Laura Blindkilde Brown (Sydney Lohmann 77’), Yui Hasegawa, Kerolin (Aoba Fujino 61’), Grace Clinton (Vivianne Miedema 61’), Lauren Hemp (Mary Fowler 77’), Khadija Shaw (Laura Coombs 85’). 

Unused Subs: Eartha Cumings, Leila Ouahabi, Gracie Prior. 

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FA Cup

Four goal delight as Manchester City secure the double, for the first time 

Manchester City Trophy Lift | photo taken from Charlie Burrell (Shot for Constancy Sport)

Manchester City are the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Winners as goals from Bunny Shaw, Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema helped Manchester City secure the double, for the first time in their history. They won the Women’s Super League earlier on in the month, and with 43,917 fans in attendance at Wembley, Manchester City won the FA Cup for the first time since 2020. 

Brighton had the early chances in the match as both Kiko Seike and Fran Kirby saw their shots either being blocked or over the bar in the first five minutes of the game. The seagulls continued to have majority of the possession throughout the first half as both of Maisie Symonds’ shots were blocked from the Manchester City defence. Brightons’ Kirby and Seike continued to pile on the pressure for the Women’s Super League winners but failed to find the back of the net on both occasions. 

Manchester City’s second shot on goal came from Khadija Shaw as she found a well worked cross from Alex Greenwood, heading it behind Nnadozie and into the back of the net in the 38th minute. This was her 11th headed goal in all competitions this season, becoming the top player from the Women’s Super League.

Seven minutes were added at the end of the first half, where Manchester City capitalised on their lead with the next coming from Alex Greenwood. After a free kick was made just outside of the box due to a foul on Khadija Shaw, it was placed in the perfect area as Greenwood managed to slot it into the bottom right corner just before the break. 

Wembley with Fans | photo taken from Charlie Burrell (Shot for Constancy Sport)

Halftime: Brighton 0-2 Manchester City 

Both teams started off brightly but Manchester City had the upper hand and just 20 minutes after the restart, Aoba Fujino scored after being on the pitch for just five minutes. Her effort was fired into the back of the net after a cross from Bunny Shaw, with her doing the bulk of the work but the Japanese skipped past players and fired it into the back of the net. 

Manchester City continued to pile on the pressure as chances from Aoba Fujino, Bunny Shaw and Jade Rose all had their efforts either saved or over the bar. It was game over in the 87th minute as Vivianne Miedema scored the fourth of the match with Kerstin Casparij finding Vivianne Miedema in the box, and her header was fired into the back of the net. 

Fulltime: Brighton 0-4 Manchester City 

How the teams looked: 

Brighton: Nnadozie, Vanegas, Minami, Symonds © (Rayner 88’), Cankovic, Seike (Kafaji 71’), Kirby (Noordam 80’), Hayes, Olislagers (McLauchlan 79’), Haley, Rule (Mpome 71’). 

Unused Substitutes: Baggaley, Tvedten, Camacho, Tsunoda. 

Manchester City: Yamashita, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood ©, Casparij, Blindkilde Brown (Lohmann 77’), Hasegawa, Hemp (Fowler 77’), Kerolin (Fujino 61’), Clinton (Miedema 61’), Shaw (Coombs 85’). 

Unused Substitutes: Cumings, Ouahabi, Prior, Murphy. 

Yellow Cards: Rebecca Knaak (54’) 

Goals: Khadija Shaw (38’), Alex Greenwood (45+6’), Aoba Fujino (66’), Vivianne Miedema (87’). 

Categories
FA Cup

Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final Match Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City 

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Wembley Stadium Arch | photo taken from @wembleystadium on X

After a two-week break from the Women’s Super League, the biggest game in the calendar returns to Wembley Stadium, rounding off the 2025/26 season. Brighton reached the final for the first time in the club’s history but for Manchester City their last success in the competition was in 2020, and will return to Wembley for the first time in four years. 

Last time they faced each other: 

They faced each other in the Women’s Super League where Brighton won 3-2, ruining the leaders early title celebrations. Goals from Madison Haley and Kiko Seike helped the seagulls get the three points against the eventual winners as Kerolin and Khadija Shaw helped reduce the deficit. 

Starting 11’s from that game: 

Brighton: Nnadozie, Rule, Hayes, Minami, Vanegas, Seike, Cankovic, Symonds, Olislagers, Kirby, Haley. 

Manchester City: Yamashita, Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood, Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Fujino, Kerolin, Hemp, Shaw. 

Brighton & Hove Albion: 

Last Game in the FA Cup: The Seagulls came from behind against Liverpool, away from home as they won 3-2 with substitute Nadine Noordam scoring the winner in the fifth minute of added time. Liverpool were 2-0 up within 22 minutes with goals from Denise O’Sullivan and Beata Olsson but goals from Manuela Vanegas and Madison Haley helped them get to 2-2. 

Starting 11: Nnadozie, Vanegas, Minami, Hayes, Rule, Olislagers, Cankovic, Symonds, Kirby (Noordam 89’), Seike, Haley. 

Unused Subs: Baggaley, Mpome, Kafaji, Rayner, Tvedten, Camacho, McLauchlan, Tsunoda. 

Form and Route to the FA Cup Final: 

Brighton came in during the fourth round proper, hosting Nottingham Forest from WSL2, winning 2-0 before drawing West Ham United away from home. They then won 2-1 against their WSL oppositions in the fifth round proper, and moved onto the quarter final stages. They then travelled to Arsenal where the home side was expected to win, with Brighton being the underdogs of the fixture. They won 2-0 and were later drawn out against Liverpool.  

Celebrations in the Semi-final versus Liverpool | Photo taken from @bhafcwomen on Instagram

Manchester City: 

Last Game in the FA Cup: Coming from behind against Chelsea, the Cityzens won in extra time after goals from Mary Fowler and Khadija Shaw forced it into an extra 30 minutes. Opening goals from Erin Cuthbert and Sam Kerr forced Manchester City to find goals in hope for a double success, with Khadija Shaw scoring the winner in the 103rd minute. 

Starting 11: Keating, Rose, Greenwood ©, Ouahabi (Fowler 85’), Casparij (Beney 66’), Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown (Lohmann 99’), Hemp, Clinton (Fujino 66’), Kerolin (Coombs 120+3’), Shaw (Murphy 120+3’). 

Unused Subs: Cumings, Wienroither, Prior. 

Form and Route to the FA Cup Final: 

Manchester City also came in during the fourth round proper where they travelled to AFC Bournemouth from the FAWNL who were having a good run prior. The WSL side won 6-0 and were drawn against WSL2 outfit Sheffield United, in front of their home fans. The side won 4-0 and then was drawn away against another WSL2 side in Birmingham City, winning 1-0 and later playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 

Grace Clinton in their last FA Cup clash versus Chelsea | Photo taken from @mancitywomen on Instagram