The exodus of players from Manchester City Women continued on Thursday with the club announcing that Lucy Bronze would leave this summer at the end of her contract.
The England defender becomes the third high-profile player whose departure has been confirmed in the past 10 days. The 30-year-old follows Georgia Stanway and Caroline Weir, and the back-up goalkeeper Karima Benameur Taieb, another whose deal is expiring, is also leaving.
Bronze rejoined City in 2020 after a spell with Lyon, having previously played for them from 2014 to 2017. She has made 111 appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals, and is poised to be part of England’s Euro 2022 squad this summer. She was named Fifa Best Women’s Player of the Year in 2020.
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Stanway, another England international, has joined Bayern Munich on a three-year deal after making her City debut aged 16 in 2015. Weir has been linked with Real Madrid and is departing after making 124 appearances for City since joining from Liverpool in 2018.
Bronze, who missed the first half of this season after knee surgery, wrote on social media: “It’s been great to spend the last two years back on home soil. Although it has come with trials and tribulations, it has also come with accomplishments. Big thanks to my teammates for being there for me. And of course, to our supporters: you’ve been by our side no matter what and you’re playing such an important role in pushing the women’s game to the level we want it to be.”