Clinton v Park: Which Manchester team got the better deal? | OneFootball

Manchester City and Manchester United swapped star players with Grace Clinton swapping red for blue and Jess Park doing the opposite.

Both England internationals impressed at their respective clubs last season and went on to be a part of Sarina Wiegman's successful Euro 2025 squad in the summer.

However, the two have now both swapped between cross town rivals.

Former Everton midfielder Clinton was in the final year of her contract at Manchester United with rumours floating of City's interest. With neither Clinton nor United able to agree on a new deal the club were open to letting the player go.

City were always keen on Clinton and made the move for the player. United weren't keen on selling to a direct rival but still wanted to avoid losing a player on a free like they had done with Alessia Russo among others in the best.

Marc Skinner's side had been looking for more offensive reinforcements and following the collapse of a deal for Giovanna Hoffmann, were willing to sell Clinton in exchange for Park and some extra cash.

Now those deals have been concluded, Playmaker took a look at the numbers to see what each player would bring to their respective teams.

Grace Clinton

After starring on loan at Tottenham Hotspur in the 2023/24 season, Clinton hit the ground running when she returned to Manchester United playing 28 games in all competitions and bagging nine goals from midfield.

Often rotating with Ella Toone – indeed, it felt like the two would sometimes trod on each other's toes when lining up alongside one another – Clinton provided aggression and power in midfield.

The Merseyside native was a big part of United's high press and her ability to win the ball back often sparked a chance for her side. Indeed, she made 86 tackles in total in the WSL – the second most of any player, behind only Spurs defender Ashleigh Neville (93).

We stated her aggression before and that translated in the player with the fifth-highest fouls committed (31) with two of her high-pressing United teammates also making the list.

Of course, Clinton comes alive going forward and no other player in the WSL made more through balls than (8) than City's new signing – the likes of Khadija Shaw and Kerolin will be eager to get on the end of them this season.

Jess Park

Taking the place of Clinton in the United squad is a more attack-minded player in Jess Park.

The 23-year-old featured in 21 of City's 22 games in the WSL last season as well as making 10 appearances in the Champions League. In total, Park scored eight goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for the Citizens and made her 100th appearance for the club last December.

Park will offer a different dynamic as we evidenced at the Etihad Stadium back in the 2023/24 season when she scored twice and made an assist against future club United – the Red Devils will be thankful not to have to face her again this season.

It was during that season where Park went from a more traditional winger to often playing a more central role, as an eight or ten in midfield. Indeed, that season her change in position saw her make the most assists per 90 minutes out of anyone in the 2023/24 season (0.46).

Last season's numbers don't quite reflect her talent, but that may be more to do with City overall taking a backwards step that saw former manager Gareth Taylor replaced midway through the season.

Her creativity is still on display though, ranking seventh in the league for passes into the penalty area (30), which was the second-highest for City last season after Lauren Hemp (33). The fact that no United player even appeared in the 10 ten shows that it is a different dynamic that United have been missing.

Win-win situation?

While it's always surprising to see two key players like Clinton and Park swap between rival clubs, this is one of the rare situations in football where it seems everyone has gained. Clinton can expect plenty of game-time next season while Park can offer her club something new.

Meanwhile, City have bagged a hugely-promising young player while United have found an able replacement and pocked a bit of extra cash as well.