Khadija Shaw, a striker for Manchester City, signed a new four-year deal with the team just days after it appeared she would be departing the Women’s Super League winners this summer. With 21 goals in 22 games, the Jamaican attacker finished as the WSL’s top scorer for a third consecutive season as City won the championship for the first time since 2016. After talks about a contract renewal went down, Chelsea was the front-runner to sign her as a free agent.
Khadija Shaw Legacy
However, Shaw, 29, collected the player of the season trophy during City’s end-of-season festivities and revealed her new contract through 2030 on stage.I’m still here, I’m still hungry, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she remarked. Shaw was “happy to announce I will be staying at the football club” before her teammates surrounded her.
In addition, she was selected the WSL player of the season and the Football Writers’ Association women’s football player of the year. In their quest for a domestic double, City will play Brighton in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday. So far this season, Shaw has made 31 appearances in all competitions, scoring 26 goals and dishing out seven assists.
She is City’s greatest goalscorer with 117 goals in 137 games since joining the team in 2021. Director of football Therese Sjogran remarked, “We’ve signed one of the best center-forwards in the world, which is a huge statement from City.”
Shaw was on the verge of departing City only a few days ago, making this the largest contract U-turn involving a prominent WSL player in history. Shaw would have been available on a free transfer following the collapse of extension talks, and Chelsea was prepared to make a sizable offer to bring the striker to London.
Chanting “we want Bunny to stay” repeatedly at the Albert Hall last week as the team celebrated their first WSL title in ten years, City supporters did everything in their power to make Shaw feel their love. As Shaw received individual awards, such as the Golden Boot and WSL player of the season, the story went on.
However, as media outcry and fan demands for clarity increased, so did City’s eagerness to reach a fresh agreement with Shaw; it is believed the forward signed the deal inside the last 24 hours. Having referred to City as her “home” in multiple interviews, Shaw’s response to the possibility of leaving confirmed her conviction that the team was where she wanted to further her career.
According to people close to the athlete, she is pleased with the four-year contract, which offers a salary package she feels is commensurate with her standing as one of the top players in the world. Shaw was asked to face the “elephant in the room” in front of 19,000 spectators on Monday during the Co-Op Live after-party of a club parade, which celebrated City’s WSL victory.
“I’m still here,” she said with a rather guilty expression. There’s nowhere I’d rather be, and I’m still hungry. I am pleased to declare that I will remain at the football club.” Even though the transfer window hasn’t opened yet, it is probably going to be the biggest deal any WSL team has made this summer.
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