Six Manchester City players have been named in the 2023/24 PFA Barclays Women’s Super League Team of the Year.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp, Khiara Keating, Alex Greenwood and Laia Aleixandri all earned a place in the prestigious eleven which is voted for by professionals across England’s top division.
The sextet each enjoyed superb individual campaigns and played a large part in helping Gareth Taylor’s side finish runners-up to Chelsea in what proved an enthralling 2023/24 WSL title race.
Centre forward Shaw achieved the finest season of her City career to date, conjuring up 21 goals from 18 league appearances to further rubber-stamp her standing as one of the finest strikers operating in the women’s game.
That impressive return saw the Jamaican international secure the coveted Golden Boot award presented to the league’s top scorer.
Hasegawa meanwhile further cemented her reputation as one of the most astute and talented holding midfielders in the global game with a series of quite outstanding individual displays.
In what was only her second full season at the Joie Stadium, the Japan international clocked up 30 appearances across all competitions – more than any other City player – and proved a model of both quality and consistency.
England international Hemp again illustrated her status as one of the league’s most accomplished operators, finishing as City’s second-highest scorer with 12 goals from 29 appearances across all competitions.
Hemp also weighed in with nine assists, the side’s joint highest tally, and Lauren’s superb form was rewarded in the shape of a new contract which will keep her at City until the summer of 2027.
Goalkeeper Keating was another to enjoy what was the finest season of her City career yet.
Elevated to first choice, the 20-year-old started every league game and kept 10 clean sheets, earning her the coveted Golden Glove award and becoming City’s first recipient of the prestigious prize since Ellie Roebuck in 2019/20.
Part of a City backline which achieved the best WSL defensive record of the season, Keating also earned her first call-ups into the England national squad and she too signed a new contract extension, committing her to the Club through to June 2027.
Meanwhile, central defensive totem Alex Greenwood was also recognised in the wake of a stellar season for Taylor’s side which further solidified her standing as one of the world game’s elite defenders.
The England international played 27 times across all competitions and proved an integral part of what was the meanest defensive unit in the league, with City conceding just 15 goals – the lowest number in the WSL.
Last but by no means least, Laia Aleixandri has also seen her outstanding individual efforts recognised with a place in the coveted PFA team of the year.
The Spanish international defender proved a rock-solid presence at the heart of the City backline alongside Greenwood as well as also demonstrating her versatility by switching positions as and when the need arose.
Laia made 29 appearances across all competitions and then ended a marathon campaign by being a key member of an impressive Spanish squad that reached the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics women’s football tournament.
Commenting on the sextet’s inclusion, Manchester City Women’s Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill said: “It’s a source of immense pride for everyone at the Club to have six players be recognised in such a way.
“Bunny, Yui, Lauren, Khiara, Alex and Laia all played a major role in what we achieved last season and to be recognised by their peers in such a way says everything about their contributions.”
Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate Khadija, Yui, Lauren, Khiara, Alex and Laia on their inclusion.
+ There are no comments
Add yours