Fowler: City has felt like home for a while | OneFootball

Mary Fowler says the environment created at City has allowed her to play her best football.

The Australia international has signed a contract extension with the Club which will keep her at the Joie Stadium until the summer of 2027.

During her time with the Blues so far, she has made 87 appearances in all competitions, scored 21 goals and provided 22 assists.

After arriving in the pre-season of 2022, she continued to progress on the field before enjoying her best term for City in 2024/25, where she plundered 10 goals and registered 10 assists in 30 appearances.

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Unfortunately her sparkling season was curtailed due to injury, but Fowler explained how she’s thriving in the atmosphere at the Club.

“City has felt like home for me for quite a while now so to continue this journey with them, I’m really proud to do that,” she declared.

“I’m really excited to continue working with the girls.

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“[There are a] few reasons [behind my decision to extend]. Enjoying my football is a big part of me playing well and City has created an environment where I can flourish in that sense.

“I love working with the girls who are here and I haven’t always had that so I appreciate that.

“As my seasons here have progressed, I’ve become a lot more comfortable in this environment and I think I’m the kind of person who plays a lot better when I’m comfortable with the people and coaching staff.

“I feel like I have that now, I have the good relationships with everyone here and that’s made me feel like I’m at home and has allowed me to be really comfortable out on the field.”

Fowler arrived at City in the summer of 2022 from French outfit Montpellier with the reputation of being one of the most exciting players in world football.

At just 19 when signing, though, that expectation could have weighed heavy on a teenager who's career was still ahead of her.

For the Australian, she says the time and patience afforded to her by the Club has been a crucial part of her development so far.

She added: “For me, I’ve always needed a bit of balance.

“When I first came in, I was quite lucky that the coach at the time Gaz [Gareth Taylor] had come to me and said there was no pressure to hit the high marks now, take your time, get used to the team and league.

“That really helped me because I felt there was a lot of expectation from the outside to perform really well when I first got here. When I look back and when I was in that moment as well when I first arrived, I was really bad.

“For me, having that support from the girls and staff around me to feel like I can make slow progression without feeling like people would be upset that I wasn’t already better.

“That really helped me enjoy that journey and process and just ask people for help without feeling embarrassed about it. Off the field, I’ve had a lot of growth, time on my own to just explore other sides of myself out here.

“That’s allowed me really focus when I’ve come back in to fill both cups at the same time.”