Layzell excited to play her part for City on the ball | OneFootball

City’s new defensive signing Naomi Layzell can’t wait to get to work building attacks from the back.

The 20-year-old centre-back has joined from Barclays Women’s Championship side Bristol City, after 77 appearances for the Vixens.

Having made the step up to City, who will be competing for trophies on four fronts this season, Layzell believes she has the perfect skillset to match our possession-based playing style.

“I’d probably describe myself as a player who really loves to defend. I love ‘emergency’ defending and all that but I also really love to be on the ball,” she began in her first interview as a City player.

“City as a team are hugely in possession based and love to have the ball and create chances. As a defender, I think it often starts from the back.

“City have a lot of the ball. Being at Bristol City it may have been slightly different and I had a lot of defending to do especially last year in the WSL.

WATCH: 240814_NAOMI LAYZELL_SIGNING INTERVIEW_WIDE

“To have the ball more, it’s a different kind of game even though you’re playing the same position you often find yourself in different scenarios.

“I think that City can help that part of my game grow. And then just training against some of the forwards who are here and the midfielders I think you can’t really beat that challenge.”

Despite her tender years, Layzell has amassed plenty of experience in the top tier.

The youngster held her own in a struggling Bristol City that suffered relegation in 2023/24 but she now wants to use that experience positively as her attention turns to chasing silverware.

“Last season was tough with Bristol City, but coming into a team who are fighting for four trophies potentially is really exciting,” she said.

“Getting the taste for what it’s sometimes like to win something just makes you want more. I’m never really satisfied with getting there and sort of being happy with what you are.

“I think you’re always striving to get better and win more things.”

Layzell has previously trained with England’s senior side and represented the Lionesses’ youth teams.

She acknowledges that experience has given her confidence and believes coming up against the likes of Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Lauren Hemp every day in training at City can only improve her game.

“I’m hugely looking forward to being able to come up against them in training. They’re hugely talented and make intelligent runs and they’re technically very good,” she said.

“If you challenge yourself against those players week-in, week-out then when you come up against other teams and other top class players, you’re more comfortable to deal with it and you feel more confident coming up against them.

“I think having the opportunity in training and hopefully playing matches with them on your team is really exciting and it should help me improve hugely.”