‘The perfect club to join’: Lea Schüller completes Manchester United move from Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Lea Schüller says it was Manchester United’s ambition that attracted her to the club, after signing for the Women’s Super League side on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The prolific Germany striker, who had six months left on her contract with Bayern Munich, will move to the English club on 1 January for an undisclosed fee, as reported by the Guardian on Sunday, after successfully completing a medical earlier in December.

Schüller, who has found the net 54 times in 82 games for her country, told Manchester United’s club media channels: “From the first conversations that I had with Marc [Skinner, head coach] and the club, the ambitions of everyone here were very clear. I still have so much that I want to achieve in my career, and I know that Manchester United is the perfect club to join.

“I feel that the team’s style of football will really suit my game, I hope my qualities and experience can help us to achieve our aims both in England and in the Champions League.”

The 28-year-old from a town near the Dutch border scored more than 100 goals for Bayern across a five-and-a-half-year spell and issued a passionate statement of gratitude on their website, saying: “Munich has truly become my home. The team and the club have always been like a second family to me. I’ve developed such close friendships here that will last forever. That’s why it’s particularly difficult to take this step and leave my home, my friends and my family.

“My years at Bayern have had a huge impact on me and will always remain very special to me. I’m going to miss you all so much and will cherish the memories – and that will never change.”

Those sentiments were echoed in the German’s club’s statement through their director of women’s football, Bianca Rech, who said: “We thank her from the bottom of our hearts for everything she has done for FC Bayern and wish her all the best for the future.”

Securing Schüller’s signature comes at a time when United appear to be gathering momentum, after qualifying for the Champions League knockout phase playoffs in a seeded position, reaching January’s League Cup semi-finals, signing the Sweden right-back Hanna Lundkvist on a three-and-a-half-year deal on Saturday and on Sunday confirming that the Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa has signed a new contract.

Matt Johnson, United’s director of women’s football, described Schüller’s goalscoring record as “phenomenal”, adding: “Her style of play will give our attack an exciting new dimension. We are delighted to add a player of her pedigree to the group.”

Header image: [Photograph: Andreas Gebert/Reuters]