Who are City’s summer signings? | OneFootball

Manchester City's first competitive fixture of the 2024/25 campaign is almost upon us...

Following last season’s second-place Barclays Women’s Super League finish, Gareth Taylor’s side kick-off the campaign with a trip to Paris FC on Wednesday.

The Champions League Round Two qualifier first leg in the French capital is then swiftly followed by our league opener away at Arsenal on Sunday 22 September.

It follows a summer period where we travelled to Australia in pre-season tour and welcomed seven new faces to the Joie Stadium.

Find everything you need to know about City’s summer recruits below...

VIVANNE MIEDEMA

City made a statement of intent early this summer by acquiring the services of the WSL’s all-time leading scorer, Vivianne Miedema.

Following seven incredible seasons at Arsenal, the Netherlands international made the switch to the Joie Stadium after collecting a swathe of team and individual accolades thanks to her goalscoring exploits with the Gunners.

In total, she has 80 WSL goals to her name with 22 of those coming in 2018/19 where she helped her former employers to the title.

Miedema has also twice won the WSL Golden Boot, been included in the PFA Team of the Year on three separate occasions while also being named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2018/19.

WATCH: Miedema on Roord conversations before City move

Her phenomenal record also translates onto the international stage with the versatile forward also the highest scoring Dutch player of all-time.

She’s currently scored 96 goals in 120 appearances for the Netherlands and helped her nation to European Championship glory in 2017.

However, Miedema’s game isn’t just about goals as she was also the first player in WSL history to reach 100 goal involvements, something she achieved with 70 strikes and 30 assists.

RISA SHIMIZU

Japan international right-back Risa Shimizu became the Club’s second summer signing following her two seasons at fellow WSL club West Ham.

During her time with the Hammers, she helped them preserve their top-flight status across a successful spell in east London after making a name for herself at Japanese outfit Tokyo Verdy Beleza where she formed a close friendship with City team-mate Yui Hasegawa.

Across an illustrious spell in her homeland, she won a remarkable 14 major honours while also being named in the Nadeshiko League’s Best Eleven in four consecutive seasons between 2017 and 2020.

A tireless runner on the field, Shimizu also trained as a marathon runner during her early career with that tireless attitude seeing her close in on a century of caps for Japan which has included two separate World Cups and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics.

Unfortunately, she suffered a rupture of her anterior cruciate ligament during Japan’s Olympic Games opening fixture against Spain in July.

She returned to the City Football Academy for further assessment by the Club’s medical team, and has since undergone a successful knee surgery. Risa will now continue her rehabilitation at the CFA.

AOBA FUJINO

Aoba Fujino arrived at the Club with a reputation as one of world football’s most promising young talents.

The 20-year-old forward enjoyed a prolific three years with Tokyo Verdy Beleza after progressing through their youth academy, named the Japanese top flight’s Most Valuable Player in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

She also earned a spot in the WE League Best XI in 2023, the same year she became Japan’s youngest-ever World Cup finals scorer, netting against Costa Rica in a 2-0 Group Stage win.

WATCH: Fujino: The dream has become a reality

Her standout displays in Australia and New Zealand only added to the excitement around her, with a scintillating free-kick at this summer’s Olympics against Spain adding to that hype.

Capable of playing through the centre or out wide, Gareth Taylor has opted to use Fujino on the wing so far during pre-season, with the Japan international putting in several standout displays.

With a frightening turn of pace, excellent movement and impressive technical quality, she’ll hope to now make her mark in England just as she has done in her home country.

EVE ANNETS

Despite still being just 18, goalkeeper Eve Annets already boasted senior experience against some of England’s best before joining City from Reading this summer.

Progressing through the Royals’ ranks, she made her senior debut for the club against Tottenham Hotspur in October 2023, before facing their North London rivals Arsenal three months later.

And England Under-19 international, Annets combines a dominant penalty box presence with excellent ability on the ball.

She’s also a penalty specialist, helping Reading win two separate shootouts last season.

At the end of August, it was announced that the young goalkeeper’s development would continue on loan at Portsmouth FC ahead of their first season in the Women’s Championship.

AYAKA YAMASHITA

Japan’s first-choice stopper, Ayaka Yamashita arrives at the City Football Academy with an astonishing 17 medals so far across her career.

That includes six Japanese top flight titles and eight domestic trophies, not to mention a spot in seven of the league’s last nine Best XI’s.

When you see the 28-year-old in action though, those achievements start to make sense.

WATCH: Leicester City 0-0 City (3-4p): Extended highlights

As well as possessing incredible reflexes and strong positioning, ‘Yama’ is another goalkeeper with outstanding ability on the ball.

She was instrumental in Japan not conceding a single goal en route to reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 2023 and also starred at the 2024 Paris Olympics for her home nation, who she has over 70 caps for already.

The stopper also enjoyed a dream debut for City, saving two Leicester spot-kicks to earn us a penalty shootout win over our WSL opponents during our pre-season tour of Australia.

NAOMI LAYZELL

Bristol City might have suffered relegation from the WSL last season, but young defender Naomi Layzell was a particular bright spark for the Vixens in 2023/24.

Voted as the club’s Young Player and Players’ Player of the Season, the youngster had helped her side gain promotion to the top flight the year before as a teenager.

Still just 20, Layzell already has almost four seasons of senior experience under her belt so far, with a maturity and footballing intelligence far beyond her years.

While her ability on the ball allows her to spark attacks from deep and pick up play in dangerous positions, she also excels in the more traditional defensive areas, thriving in the physical battle that English football has to offer.

In recognition of those qualities, Layzell was called up to train with England’s senior side at their 2024 summer training camp.

KATIE STARTUP

A familiar face to City fans, Startup was our seventh and final summer recruit when she joined from fellow WSL side Brighton.

The goalkeeper had spent the final few weeks of the 2023/24 campaign on an emergency loan deal at the CFA, offering competition for places in the midst of an injury crisis between the sticks.

A hugely popular member of the squad, her efforts in training impressed Gareth Taylor enough for him to make the move permanent ahead of the current campaign.

Having worked her way through the ranks at Gillingham and Chelsea, Startup’s senior career began in South London at Charlton Athletic, whom she helped gain promotion to the second tier in 2018.

The Addicks would finish third the following season, with the goalkeeper an ever-present between the sticks, before a move to the Seagulls followed in 2020.

Amid loan spells back at Charlton, Liverpool and at City, Startup made her WSL debut for Brighton and kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over West Ham United in March 2022.

She’ll provide competition between the sticks once again as we push for silverware on a domestic and European front this year.