City secure Layzell signature | OneFootball

Manchester City are pleased to announce the signing of Naomi Layzell.

The 20-year-old defender joins the Club after committing to a four-year deal, which keeps her at the Joie Stadium until the summer of 2028.

Layzell, who will wear the number 3 shirt for the Cityzens, joins Manchester City from Bristol City where she was an integral part of promotion to the Women’s Super League in the 2022-2023 Women’s Championship season, playing 20 of their 22 matches and conceding just 12 goals throughout the campaign.

Layzell said: “It’s quite surreal to be honest. You always want to play for the top teams as a young player and I think joining City is an exciting opportunity for me.”

“Playing alongside and against top elite professionals in the world is just a brilliant opportunity and a really hard one to turn down. I grew so much as a person at Bristol City, but I felt it was time for me to find a new challenge.  I’m really excited to get involved.”

Manchester City Women Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill added: “If you play for a club like City, you compete for everything you are involved in and that is what we are aiming to do with the squad we are building. Naomi is another young homegrown player with plenty of potential.”

Head Coach Gareth Taylor continued: “We‘re pleased to add Naomi to the team for next season. She’s a quality defender and we’re looking forward to helping her grow and develop as a player.”

WATCH: Layzell: The aim is to win every competition we’re in

HEROIC DEFENDING

Although just 20-years-old, Naomi Layzell arrives at Manchester City with a wealth of experience.

After progressing through Bristol City’s youth ranks, she broke into their first-team before tasting the ecstasy and agony football can provide in a blink of an eye.

Her maiden appearance for the Vixens came against London Bees, helping her former employers maintain a clean sheet in a 4-0 Continental Cup win in October 2020.

It wouldn’t be long until she made her Barclays Women’s Super League debut when she featured, ironically, against City at the Joie Stadium where the hosts ran out 8-1 winners.

A baptism of fire to the top-flight, perhaps, which she has used as fuel to cement her status as one of English football’s most exciting defensive talents.

Relegation followed for Bristol City in 2020/21 which brought obvious disappointment, but the opportunity to play consistently in the second-tier provided a strong education and a chance to experience consistent senior football for Layzell.

The Vixens finished third the following season, but relentlessly battled for the Championship title in 2022/23 before winning the division and a ticket back to the WSL.

Across their 22 matches en route to second-tier glory, the 20-year-old played 20 and was a mainstay in the side who conceded just 12 goals in the league that term.

Back in the first-tier, Layzell’s individual displays were a highlight in a tough season for Bristol City where they were relegated.

City’s newest recruit, though, scooped their Young Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards as her stock continued to rise among the game’s elite.

Across last season, she also made her England U23 bow in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands before being invited to train with the Lionesses’ senior team in recent months.

A tough tackling defender who possesses the intelligence and ability on the ball, Layzell appears the ideal recruit to join our stellar backline department.