Three City players on Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist

Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw have all been included on the 30-player shortlist for what is considered the most prestigious individual award in world football.

Awarded by French magazine France Football, the winners in each category will be announced at a ceremony taking place at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday 28 October.

Yui Hasegawa

Arguably the finest ‘number six’ in world football, Hasegawa’s second campaign at City was just as impressive as her first, and has earned her another spot in the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

She kept her place in the PFA WSL Team of the Year, with only Chloe Kelly and Mary Fowler able to match her 30 appearances in all competitions for Gareth Taylor’s side.

Precise and positive on the ball and tenacious off it, Hasegawa is often the metronome that keeps this well-oiled machine ticking.

But what’s so exciting for City fans is that the Japan international is here to stay, having signed a two-year contract extension to 2027 back in January.

Lauren Hemp

With 21 goal involvements in 27 appearances, Hemp enjoyed yet another fantastic individual campaign, figuring in the PFA WSL Team of the Year for a third time in four seasons.

Finding the net in two of our three Manchester derby wins last season, the England international was once again often the player her team-mates would turn to when in need of inspiration.

Hemp was there to provide that spark time and again, most notably in a gutsy 2-1 win over Aston Villa in December 2023, before a remarkable scorpion kick sparked a win against a stubborn Leicester side two months later.

Like Hasegawa, she too committed her long-term future to the Club by signing a contract extension until 2027.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw

Despite not quite matching her 31 strikes across 2022/23, Shaw perhaps enjoyed her finest season to date last year, breaking individual, Club and league goal records.

The Jamaica international won the WSL Golden Boot with 21 goals in just 18 appearances and also became the Club’s record goalscorer when she netted against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in March 2024.

With an impressive turn of pace, remarkable aerial ability and a clinical finish, Shaw was often the driving force behind City’s attack, and was once again named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year for 2023/24.

To add to that list, she also claimed individual awards in the form of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate our players on their nominations.

The full Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist is:

Barbra Banda – Shanghai RCB/Orlando Pride

Aitana Bonmati – Barcelona

Lucy Bronze – Barcelona/Chelsea

Mariona Caldentey – Barcelona/Arsenal

Tabitha Chawinga – PSG

Grace Geyoro – PSG

Manuela Giugliano – Roma

Patricia Guijarro – Barcelona

Caroline Graham Hansen – Barcelona

Guilia Gwinn – Bayern Munich

Ada Hegerberg – Lyon

Lindsey Horan – Lyon

Lauren James – Chelsea

Marie-Antoinette Katoto – PSG

Alyssa Naeher – Chicago Red Stars

Sjoeke Nusken – Chelsea

Ewa Pajor – Wolfsburg/Barcelona

Salma Paralluelo – Barcelona

Gabi Portilho – Corinthians

Alex Putellas – Barcelona

Mayra Ramirez – Chelsea

Trinity Rodman – Washington Spirit

Lea Schuller – Bayern Munich

Sophie Smith – Portland Thorns

Mallory Swanson – Chicago Red Stars

Tarciane – Houston Dash

Glodis Viggosdottir – Bayern Munich