Manchester United have signed defender, Aissatou Tounkara from Atletico Madrid.
Tounkara began her career at Buttes Chaumont SC before spending time at Issy-les-Moulineaux and FCF Juvisy (now known as Paris FC), where she graduated into the latter’s senior team and scored three goals in 87 appearances.
The French defender went on to join Spain’s Atletico Madrid Femenino in 2018 where she scored six goals in 83 appearances, during which she won 2018-19 Primera Division and 2020-21 Supercopa de Espana titles.
Tounkara has now opted for a fresh challenge as she makes a move to Man Utd, where she will participate in the Women’s Super League (WSL), Women’s FA Cup and Women’s Continental Tyre Cup this season as she begins the first of a two-season contract.
Speaking about her move to the Red Devils after four seasons at Atletico Madrid, Tounkara commented: “I am very happy and honoured to join such a prestigious team as Manchester United.
“I can’t wait to start this new challenge and join my team-mates.”
Man Utd manager, Marc Skinner added that the club had been monitoring Tounkara “for a while” and is “delighted” to sign her on a two-year contract until June 2024.
On what he expects Tounkara to add to the squad this season as Utd chase a top-three league finish and a first domestic cup title, Skinner added: “She will offer vital Champions League and European competition experience to our younger players, and a real maturity to our all-round defensive play.”
Tounkara plays for France in international football where she has scored three goals in 35 appearances since she made her senior debut in 2016, plus was part of the Les Bleues squad which reached the semi-finals of this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO.
Tounkara is Utd’s seventh signing of this summer’s transfer window after Adriana Leon, Rachel Williams, Grace Clinton, Maya Le Tissier, Lucia Garcia and Nikita Parris also signed for the club.
Tounkara could make her competitive Utd debut on Saturday 10 September away to Tottenham Hotspur in the 2022-23 WSL season-opener live on Sky Sports, in a 12:30pm BST kick-off.
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