Manchester City have signed midfielder, Grace Clinton from Manchester United for an undisclosed transfer fee plus Jess Park.
With just one year left on Clinton’s contract and United keen on signing Park, City offered an undisclosed transfer fee plus Park in exchange for Clinton which Utd duly accepted in a deal which suited both Manchester clubs.
Clinton has signed a four-year contract at City until June 2029 and has described the move as “amazing” and is “excited” to be part of City’s squad.
“I love the way Manchester City play, and it’s been tough to play against them in the past so I’m excited to be here and meet the girls.
“City, for me, has always played an amazing style of football. Keeping the ball, it looks lovely, and there are amazing players.”
Prior to official confirmation of her move, Clinton posted a farewell message to Utd fans in which she explained that it was “a very difficult decision” to make, although iterated that “growth” is her priority at City.
“Me and the club have taken the decision to part ways over the past few days.
“This has been a very difficult decision for me because of the love I have for my team-mates and for you, the fans. However, I feel the future of the club and I aren’t on the same page.
“For me personally, the next step is about growth, I want to continue to develop and learn.”
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Man City’s Women’s Director of Football, Therese Sjogran added: “We’re really pleased to have been able to bring Grace to Manchester City – she’s a player we have admired for a while now.
“She is still a young player but already has a lot of experience under her belt, and we believe she will fit in seamlessly with our style of play and add to the talented squad we already have.
“We’re very much looking forward to working with Grace over the coming seasons and seeing her make her mark in a Manchester City shirt.”
Clinton began her career at Everton where she graduated through the Toffees’ youth academy and made her senior debut in October 2020 as a substitute in a 6-0 Women’s Super League win over Aston Villa, before she went on to score one goal in 21 appearances across two seasons.
July 2022 saw Clinton move to Utd where she struggled to break through into the senior team and was subsequently loaned to Bristol City in the second half of 2022-23 season, which saw her score on debut in the first of 15 appearances across which she netted six goals.
Clinton spent 2023-24 season on loan at Tottenham where she produced a series of impressive performances with five goals in 27 appearances, although she was ineligible to feature in the Women’s FA Cup Final as Spurs lost to her parent club – Man Utd.
Utd consequently retained her within the first team last season and she scored on her Utd debut in a 3-0 WSL victory at home to West Ham in September 2024, and went on to net nine goals in 28 appearances across all competitions.
October 2023 saw Clinton receive her maiden senior call-up for England but she had to wait until her third call-up in February 2024 before she made her senior debut, which came in a 7-2 friendly victory over Austria in which she scored the Lionesses’ second goal.
Clinton has since scored three goals in 16 senior appearances and was part of England’s squad in their successful UEFA Women’s Euro title defence, during which she was a 115th-minute substitute against Spain in the final as the reigning champions prevailed on penalties.
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