Manchester United have unveiled their new-look 21-player squad assembled by manager Casey Stoney ahead of the club’s official debut in the FA Women’s Championship this season.
The squad is led by England internationals Siobhan Chamberlain, Alex Greenwood, and Amy Turner, while a raft of former United talent returns to Manchester for another shot with the club.
But Chamberlain, Greenwood, and Turner are the standout names of an impressive club, amassing 81 caps between them for England in recent years as well as being three of seven players following Stoney from her former club Liverpool.
Martha Harris also joins from Liverpool along with young goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, reunited with Chamberlain between the sticks, and as teenage defensive duo Lucy Roberts and Naomi Hartley.
Among other impressive recruits in the squad include another former Liverpool player. Midfielder Katie Zelem joins after a year abroad with Juventus, a season that ended with Zelem winning the Serie A title with the Old Lady.
In attack, Stoney has snapped up three of the top five goal scorers in FA WSL 2 last season. Doncaster Rovers Belles duo Jess Sigsworth and Kirsty Hanson are joined by Millwall attacking midfielder Charlie Devlin, with the attack completed by Aston Villa starlet Ebony Salmon, Manchester City’s Ella Toone and winger Leah Galton.
Harrogate-born Galton is returning to the game after taking a short break from football after joining Bayern Munich in December, while Arsenal’s 16-year-old sensation Lauren James and Everton’s Mollie Green also reinforce a strong attacking/midfield unit.
Toone’s Manchester City teammate Fran Bentley will compete with Chamberlain and Ramsey for goalkeeping rights while assistant manager Willie Kirk has also had a clear influence on the squad.
Scotland duo Kirsty Smith and Lizzie Arnot worked with Kirk at Hibernian, the latter was set for a move to Manchester City last season before tearing her ACL. United have also signed two players from Kirk’s former club Bristol City in the form of England youth team player Aimee Palmer and captain Millie Turner, an impressive signing to compliment Zelem in the middle of the park.
Full Squad
Find out more about each player in OGM‘s player profiles.
Goalkeepers: Siobhan Chamberlain, Emily Ramsey, Fran Bentley
Defenders: Kirsty Smith, Martha Harris, Amy Turner, Lucy Roberts, Naomi Hartley, Alex Greenwood
Midfielders: Millie Turner, Aimee Palmer, Katie Zelem, Lauren James, Lizzie Arnot, Charlie Devlin, Mollie Green
Forwards: Ella Toone, Ebony Salmon, Jess Sigsworth, Kirsty Hanson, Leah Galton