Manchester City have signed Julie Blakstad from Rosenborg on a two-and-a-half year contract until Summer 2024.
Blakstad’s move marks a first foray into English football for the 20 year-old Norwegian, who has scored 17 goals in 35 appearances at Rosenborg since joining them in 2020 prior to this transfer.
Speaking about her decision to leave her homeland to join City, Blakstad said: “It’s amazing to be a Manchester City player and I can’t wait to get started.
“Everybody has been amazing so far, and I’m so excited to meet my teammates. At this point in my career, it’s important to take a new step to develop myself further and I believe this is the best place for me to do that.
“You only have to look at the club – the facilities, the staff and the players all have incredible dedication to achieve something big and I really want to be a part of that.”
Since graduating through Ottestad IL’s academy and scoring once in nine senior appearances in 2018, Blakstad has gone on to net 29 goals throughout her senior club football career, which included a season at Fotballaget Fart in 2019 before her switch to Rosenborg.
Blakstad has also graduated rapidly through Norway’s youth ranks before making her debut for Norway’s senior team in October 2020 in a 1-0 away win against Wales in Cardiff in Qualifying for 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros.
Manchester City Women’s Head Coach, Gareth Taylor meanwhile iterated that he and the club are “delighted” to sign Blakstad and believes that she will slot seamlessly into the squad.
“At just 20 years old, she’s already proven what a talent she is for both club and country and she’s a player who will fit perfectly into our squad and ethos here at City.”
On what he hopes to help Blakstad achieve over the next two-and-a-half years, Taylor added: “We’re very much looking forward to working with her over the coming years – she is an incredibly ambitious young player and we’re excited to help her develop and grow here in England.”
Blakstad will wear the number 41 shirt and could make her debut for the club this weekend away to Nottingham Forest in the Fourth Round of 2021-22 Women’s FA Cup, which takes place at the City Ground on Saturday 29 January in a 1pm GMT kick-off.
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