Melissa Lawley has signed a new contract at newly promoted Liverpool FC Women ahead of 2022-23 Women’s Super League season.
Lawley began her career at Arsenal in 2011 before joining Bristol Academy a year later but moved to Birmingham City in 2013, where she scored six goals in 54 appearances in a three-year spell for the Midlands club who have most recently been relegated from WSL.
The midfielder went on to play for Manchester City between 2017-19 where she scored once in 22 appearances, as well as contribute towards two Women’s FA Cup title and one WSL Cup honour prior to a move to Liverpool in July 2019.
Lawley failed to help prevent the Reds suffer relegation at conclusion of 2019-20 season on points-per-game basis, following the early conclusion to the campaign due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Liverpool consequently spent two seasons in the FA Women’s Championship where they finished third in 2020-21 season behind Durham and Leicester, with the latter club promoted to the WSL where they successfully stayed up last season.
Last season however saw the Reds clinch promotion back to the WSL after a two-season absence, of which Lawley played a huge role with eight assists for her teammates.
Speaking about her decision to sign a new contract at Liverpool, Lawley said that she is “excited” to continue with the Reds, as they look to avoid instant relegation back to the second-tier this season.
Reflecting on last season and what lies ahead, Lawley said: “Last season was an amazing experience and I know there’s more to come from this group of girls.
“Obviously it’s going to be a challenging year, but with the group of players we’ve got and the staff behind we’ll go in as a together team, work hard and the performances will come.”
With Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur having joined the WSL in recent years, Lawley is “looking forward” to taking on the other five members of English Football’s ‘big six’ clubs within the Women’s game for the first time as she seeks to add more assists and goals this season.
Liverpool FC Women manager, Matt Beard meanwhile hailed Lawley as an “outstanding” player with “great character” on and off the ball.
Beard went on to praise the 28 year-old for her technical qualities as a winger as he added: “I love the way she can just slow the play down, drop the shoulder, beat a player and turn defence into attack on the counter.”