A Summer of Spending Has Put FAWSL on Global Stage, Can Manchester City live up to the Hype?

This summer’s deals have brought more global attention on the league than it has seen since it began in 2011, but which star signing will prove to be the best piece of business?

Five of the USA’s World Cup winners have joined the league, while five of the top 10 players listed in the Guardian’s ‘100 best female footballers in the world 2019’ now play in the WSL. Lucy Bronze, Pernille Harder and Rose Lavelle join Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema, who were already in England.

Let’s take a look at Man City’s newest recruits-

Lucy Bronze

The 28-year-old Lucy Bronze was voted as the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2020 for the second time, after helping the Lionesses reach the semi-finals of the past three major international tournaments. Also, France striker Valerie Gauvin, 24, joined Everton after scoring 14 times in 16 games for Montpellier last term, per BBC Sports.

Alex Greenwood

Left-back Alex Greenwood now Man City signing, became the second England full-back to join Manchester City this summer, after helping Lyon win the Champions League. The former Manchester United captain, 27, has joined their local rivals having also previously played for Everton, Liverpool and Notts County and spent one year with the dominant French side.

Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis

Lavelle was one of the stars of 2019’s World Cup, tormenting England’s defense early on in the semi-finals and then scoring the United States’ second goal in their victory over the Netherlands in the final. In her 45 caps for her country so far, the 25-year-old has scored 12 times and provided seven assists. Alongside her fellow United States midfielder Lavelle, Sam Mewis joined Manchester City this summer and was the first of the five world champions to be announced as a WSL player during the window. The 27-year-old helped North Carolina Courage win America’s NWSL in both 2018 and 2019.

These and so many world’s best players signed for English clubs. Having seen the in influx of stars in to the FAWSL making it globally attractive, the big question is who will prove to be the best signing into FAWSL this season?

Hopefully, they wear sky blue.