Manchester United Women have revealed another new player, officially announcing the signing of German striker Lea Schüller.
The experienced forward joins the Man United women’s team from reigning Frauen-Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, having spent half a decade with the seven-time winners.
Schuller is the third deal done in just a matter of a few days, following another European international, Hanna Lundkvist, who will officially join up with the team on 1 January.
Unveiled on Monday, 29 December, the 28-year-old made more than a century of appearances for Bayern and helped them to four of those titles, as well as a Women’s DFB-Pokal German cup.
Safe to say she arrived in Manchester with a fair bit of pedigree.
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Also scoring over 100 goals in her five years with the club, as well as 54 goals in 82 appearances for Germany, with whom she finished as runners-up when England defeated them in the Euro 2022 final.
Speaking in her first official club statement, Schüller said: “From the first conversations that I had with Marc and the club, the ambitions of everyone here were very clear. I still have so much that I want to achieve in my career, and I know that Manchester United is the perfect club to join.
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“I feel that the team’s style of football will really suit my game; I hope my qualities and experience can help us to achieve our aims both in England and in the Champions League.”
The club is definitely having a productive recruitment period as promised, with Marc Skinner looking to bring in even more before the end of the January transfer window.
As for Schüller, she has signed a contract until June 2029, and you can expect Skinner and his coaching staff to start introducing her into their offensive line around her very soon.
Matt Johnson, Director of Women’s Football at Manchester United, went on to add: “Lea’s goalscoring record is phenomenal, her style of play will give our attack an exciting new dimension. We are delighted to add a player of her pedigree to the group.
“Lea’s winning mentality and experience will really help our young and ambitious team as we continue to grow together and compete across domestic and European competitions.”
You can see her first full interview as a Man United Women’s star down below.
The Olympic bronze medallist should contribute plenty.
VAR audio requested as Nottingham Forest prepare complaint after Man City defeat
Danny Jones
Nottingham Forest have requested that the VAR audio from their game against Manchester City be released, as they are considering launching a formal complaint following the defeat.
Forest hosted Man City at home this past weekend and went on to lose 2-1.
However, Sean Dyche’s side are said to be ‘extremely unhappy’ with some of the refereeing decisions made by first official, Rob Jones, on the day.
As a result, they are now asking the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to share some of the conversations between on-pitch officials and the VAR team at Stockley Park in West London.
"I'm scratching my head and I can't believe it!" 😳
Sean Dyche wasn't happy with the officiating in their loss to Man City 😬
As you can see, Dyche initially said that “there’s no point” in pushing the refs on their performance, as he feels they usually only “get in trouble”, but it looks as though his employers have advocated for him.
Nottingham Forest had a problem with the final call in a number of instances during the festive fixture on Saturday, 27 December, but none more so than in one key moment.
The manager and his coaching team felt that Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been cancelled out following a foul by Nico O’Reilly on Morgan Gibbs-White in the preceding corner, which may have prevented Cherki from scoring another decisive finish.
Dyche also argued that another City defender, Ruben Dias, was due a second yellow card and therefore dismissal from the pitch for a challenge after the break, but there was ultimately nothing doing.
You can see the collision here:
"I do have sympathy for Sean Dyche… it is a second yellow card!"
Ref Watch discuss whether Ruben Dias should have been sent off against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/dxTYmGsEqZ
According to Sky Sports News, Nottingham have already requested more information from the refereeing body, with this not being the first time they’ve felt hard done by.
As they put it, the hope/belief is that raising the issue could help “start a broader discussion around officiating this season.”
What do you make of Forest’s concerns against Manchester City, and do you think they’re worthy of launching an official complaint against the PGMOL and Premier League?
You can see the highlights from the game and perhaps decide for yourself down below.
Featured Images — TNT Sports (screenshot via YouTube)/The Manc Group
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Manchester United Women have signed a new Swedish international defender
Danny Jones
Manchester United Women have announced that the club has reached an agreement for the signing of Swedish international defender Hanna Lundkvist.
Having just departed American outfit San Diego Wave FC last week, Hanna Lundkvist is set to become a Man United and Women’s Super League (WSL) player on 1 January 2026.
Leaving the US after more than a year in the National Women’s Soccer League – Lundkvist signed for San Diego back in February 2024 – she has already spoken highly of England’s premier female division.
At just 23 and having already made 17 appearances for her country, including every game at the most recent Women’s Euros, she’s a highly-rated European prospect.
With the club already confirming the deal ahead of being fully unveiled as an official United Women’s signing, she will be the fourth member of the Sweden national setup in the squad after Anna Sandberg, Fridolina Rolfo and Julia Zigiotti Olme.
The ex-AIK and Hammarby IF youth is also set to face another one of her former teams, Atlético Madrid, in the growing Greater Manchester side’s knockout phase play-off fixture in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (WCL) this coming February.
Making it through to the next stage after beating fellow group qualifiers Juventus earlier this month, it remains to be seen how far Marc Skinner‘s side will go in their debut WCL campaign.
Her arrival is the first in what Skinner has already built up as an “aggressive” period of recruitment in the New Year, with the women’s transfer window set to close on Tuesday, 3 February, just a day after the male equivalent does.
As for Lundkvist, she’s already been given the seal of approval by her coach and the club, even being given a big defensive number.
Putting pen to paper on a contract until 2029, Lundkvist said in a statement: “I am really excited to be here; Manchester United is a club with an amazing history. You can feel how much they have grown in the last few years, competing in one of the strongest leagues in the world and performing in the WCL.
“Speaking with Marc and the coaches confirmed all of the great things I have heard about the culture of the team here. I cannot wait to get started and help the group to achieve more success.”
Director of women’s football at Man United, Matt Johnson, went on to add: “We are delighted to have signed a player with excellent experience at both club and international level at such a young age.
“Hanna will add further quality and energy to our defence; her determination and attitude will really help the group as we continue to compete across domestic and European competitions.”
Over in the blue half of Manchester, another youngster is reportedly heading out on his second loan spell in the January transfer window.