Official: Man United Women keeper Safia Middleton-Patel secures loan deal to Watford | OneFootball

1

Manchester United Women goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel has secured a loan move away from the club.

New signings

The excellent Phallon Tullis-Joyce is the club’s undisputed number one keeper after her terrific form replacing Mary Earps during the previous two seasons.

Janina Leitzig has also increased competition in the goalkeeping department after she was signed from Leicester City earlier in the summer.

Consequently, United keeper Kayla Rendell has secured a loan deal to Newcastle United Women in the second division in search of more game time.

Fellow keeper, Middleton-Patel, has now followed suit to Watford.

Middleton-Patel

The Welsh international has officially joined the London club this August.

The club’s official website has reported, “Manchester United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel has agreed a loan move to Watford for the 2026/27 season, subject to registration.”

The site adds, “it’s a return to the second-tier club for the United Academy graduate, who earned senior minutes while on loan there in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.”

She made three appearances last season for the United first team, including filling in for Tullis-Joyce against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Watford’s official site reports, “Watford FC Women is delighted to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel on a season-long loan from Manchester United.”

The Hornets also asserted, “the 21-year-old returns to the club having spent the second half of the 2023/24 season with the Hornets, when she made six appearances in the second tier.”

The keeper will hope to log significantly more minutes this season than last and give new manager Eva Olid something to think about next year when she returns from her loan.