Manchester United Women have strengthened their defence with the signing of Swedish international Hanna Lundkvist, who will officially join the club on 1 January 2026, subject to international clearance and registration. The 23-year-old has agreed a contract until June 2029, reflecting United’s strategy of combining immediate reliability with long-term potential.
Lundkvist arrives with experience across Sweden, Spain, and the United States. While she may not make headlines instantly, her profile suggests a player who could quietly become central to United’s defensive framework.
Marc Skinner has consistently emphasised the need to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window to ensure his team can compete at the highest level across all competitions. The United manager is focused on building a foundation for the future, to maintain consistency and depth throughout a demanding season.
From Sweden to the global stage
Born in Djurö, Sweden, Lundkvist came through the ranks at AIK and Hammarby, initially in more attacking roles before establishing herself as a full-back. A move to Atlético Madrid in 2021 refined her positional discipline in a possession-based system, while a stint with San Diego Wave in the NWSL introduced her to a faster, more physical style of football.
Across nearly 50 appearances in the U.S., she became a dependable starter and helped San Diego lift the NWSL Challenge Cup, arriving at United as a far more complete defender than when she left Sweden.
The missing piece to Skinner’s defence
Lundkvist isn’t the type of wing-back who dominates highlight reels with flashy goals or assists. Her value lies in consistency and reliability. She reads danger well, excels in one-on-one situations, and rarely gets caught out of position. Defensively solid, she also has the stamina to support attacks when United push high, moving the ball efficiently in possession rather than forcing risky passes, perfect for United’s structured build-up play.
Fitting into United’s right-back options
With Hannah Blundell recently returning after giving birth to baby Romi, Jayde Riviere has been sharing right-back duties, with Maya Le Tissier also available to provide cover. Riviere offers pace, intensity, and aggressive defending, though her game can rely more on athleticism than positional awareness. Blundell brings leadership and tactical discipline, while Le Tissier, naturally a centre-back, provides composure and physical presence but less attacking balance when deployed wide.
Lundkvist bridges these styles, combining positional discipline and game management with athletic mobility. She can operate as a conventional right-back, a slightly inverted full-back stepping into midfield, or a wide defender when protecting a lead—a versatility that will be vital across a long WSL season and European fixtures.
Strengths and growth areas
Her game is built on intelligence rather than flair. She maintains compact defensive positioning, reads situations well, and pairs this with strong stamina and recovery speed. In possession, she keeps the ball moving securely, prioritising structure over risky passes.
While she supports attacks and knows when to overlap, she isn’t a high-volume creator and will rely on teammates for most of the final-third creativity. Adjusting to the physical intensity and elite attackers of the WSL may take time, but her experience across top leagues suggests she can make the transition successfully.
International pedigree
A regular for Sweden since 2022, Lundkvist has featured in major tournaments, demonstrating calmness and maturity under pressure. She started every game at the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championships. Her international pedigree adds composure and intelligent decision-making to United’s back line.
Lundkvist on joining United
“I am really excited to be here. Manchester United is a club with an amazing history. You can feel how much they have grown in the last few years, competing in one of the strongest leagues in the world and performing in the Champions League. Speaking with Marc and the coaches confirmed al of the great things I have heard about the culture of the team here. I cannot wait to get started and help the group achieve more success.”
Statement of intent
Under Marc Skinner, United’s full-backs are expected to blend tactical discipline with athleticism, particularly against high-pressing opponents. Lundkvist’s arrival adds depth, increases competition on the right, and reduces the drop-off caused by injuries or fixture congestion. At just 23, she also offers long-term potential.
This is a signing that signals ambition. Lundkvist may not arrive with superstar hype, but she has the intelligence, reliability, and versatility to become a key figure as Manchester United Women push to compete on all fronts.
