Manchester United have today announced their first signing of the summer, in former Birmingham City player Lucy Staniforth on a deal until the end of the 2021/2022 season.
The 27-year-old has previously featured for Sunderland, Notts County, Liverpool and Bristol City prior to latest club Birmingham City and she will bring a wealth of Barclays FA Women’s Super League experience with her to The Leigh Sports Village.
The player’s move to Casey Stoney’s Manchester United was announced via the club’s official website earlier today.
Staniforth will add depth to United’s midfield and will offer stiff competition to the other midfielders in the squad. The England international has been capped by her country at senior level on 16 occasions and has featured at both the 2019 SheBelieves Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 for the Lionesses.
The midfielder comes from a footballing family in which her father Gordon featured for both York City and Hull City. Sunderland was where Staniforth made her first senior appearance at the tender age of just 16 and she went on to play an integral role in the club’s promotion from the FA Premier North Division as the side also went on to feature in the 2009 Women’s FA Cup final.
A player of her calibre is sure to be a huge addition to Stoney’s Manchester United side. The former Birmingham City captain will bring leadership to her role with the ability to control attack from her midfield position. While the player will be key to the side’s success in front of goal, she will also bring defensive qualities to the United midfield.
Upon signing on at The Leigh Sports Village, Staniforth told United’s official media outlets “I’m really happy to have signed with Manchester United; it’s the biggest club in the world and I’m so proud to be part of it. I’ve been impressed with the performances from last season and the club’s future ambitions. I wanted to come here to win trophies and make history with this club, and I’m just excited to get started.”
