Man City Swoop For Lionesses, Bronze, Kelly and Greenwood

Photo: @OLfeminin

Lionesses Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly are set to join Manchester City according to a recent report from The Telegraph.

It has widely been speculated that Bronze and Greenwood would be returning to the WSL after their respective spells with French giants Olympique Lyonnais.

Bronze’s time at Lyon has been nothing short of impressive. Bronze has thrice won the League, as well as winning the Women’s French Cup in 2019, plus two consecutive Champions League titles. Her performances over the past three years have also seen her named as UEFA’s Women’s Player of the Year in 2019, and earned her the runners-up position at the Ballon d’Or Awards of the same year.

Now widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest right backs, Bronze’s return to City is welcomed. Bronze previously played for City between 2014-2017 before signing for Lyon. During her earlier stint with the Blues, Bronze won one League title and helped City qualify for their first ever Champions League.

Bronze will assumedly slot straight in to her natural right back role, freeing up forwards Janine Beckie and Georgia Stanway, who have been filling the position in the absence of injured defender Aoife Mannion.

Greenwood has also had a successful stint at Lyon. The left back joined the French Champions after leading Manchester United to promotion into the WSL last year. In her year aboard, the former United captain helped Lyon to win their 14th Division 1 Féminine title. New boss Gareth Taylor will now have the option of Greenwood or Demi Stokes on the left, exactly the choice that the national side have had over the last couple of years.

Greenwood’s arrival at City may ruffle a few feathers with supporters of her former club. The rivalry between the two Manchester sides could well have just stepped up a notch.

Photo by Richard Heathcote

Bronze and Greenwood have extended their contracts with Lyon for another two months, meaning they will both be available to play the remainder of the Champions League matches. The pair will reportedly start with Manchester City once the 2020/21 season commences, just a few days after the Champions League concludes.

Forward Chloe Kelly also looks to be joining the Blues. Everton’s superstar striker rejected the offer to renew her contract with the Toffees after it expired in June. Kelly has had an excellent spell with Everton, and finishes up her final season with nine goals in twelve appearances. Due to her exceptional form, Kelly was also called up to play for the Lionesses in February’s SheBelieves Cup.

Kelly’s move is reported not to be set in stone just yet, but sources suggest that a deal is close to being signed.

The addition of Bronze, Greenwood and Kelly at City will see the Blues have no less than twelve regular England players in their squad. The trio will join the likes of captain Steph Houghton, playmaker Keira Walsh, and the Lionesses most capped active player, Jill Scott.

A sizeable cohort of the English squad at one club is likely to prove favourable both domestically and nationally. The Lionesses look to have a busy few years ahead of them and players training and working together with regularity will surely help develop a crucial unity.

 

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