Manchester City have announced that Danish international Nadia Nadim has agreed terms with the club and will join the City Women’s set up in January 2018, when she will pull on the #10 shirt for the first time.
With 74 caps and 22 goals for Denmark’s national team, who made it all the way to the final of this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros, Nadia Nadim’s performance on the pitch has earned her recognition as one of Europe’s most talented strikers.
Originally from Afghanistan, Nadim arrived in Denmark as a refugee at the age of 12 and her passion for the game has flourished ever since beginning with her time at local community club GUG Boldklub. She signed her first professional contract with IK Slovbakken in 2006 and later played for Fortuna Hjørring with whom she had her first taste of Champions League action.
In 2014, Nadim moved to the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League to play for Sky Blue FC before joining Portland Thorns FC, where last season she was the team’s top goal scorer, netting nine goals and helping the club secure the 2016 NWSL Shield.
Commenting on her new contract with the club, Nadim said:
“I am so excited to join Manchester City and for me there wasn’t really any other choice. Manchester City has done so much for women’s football and I want to be a part of the history they are making. Their ambitions to grow the game and win trophies reflect my own and I’m ready for the new challenge, especially when it comes to challenging for the Women’s Champions League trophy.
“The City Football Academy is massive and the knowledge and professionalism of everyone at the club is something I’ve never seen before. I always want to improve as a player and I’m confident that I can do that here. I only hope I can contribute to helping the whole team achieve even more this season.”
Nick Cushing, Head Coach of Manchester City Women, added:
“Nadia is somebody who has been on our radar for a while now. Her physical attributes and her presence as a striker are really going to bring our team on and really improve us.
“We speak consistently about the type of person we want to bring in and that’s no different with this signing. Nadia is a very bubbly character, somebody who loves the game and I think her story shows the desire and the real drive she has to succeed as a football player.”
Last season, Manchester City lifted the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup trophy, became champions of the Women’s Super League and won the SSE Women’s FA Cup for the first time in their history. The team also enjoyed their debut in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, making it to the semi-final stage, an achievement the club looks to build on this season. City kicked off their FA WSL campaign last weekend with a 4-0 win over Yeovil Town Ladies and will be back in action at the Academy Stadium this Saturday, 30 September when they go head to head with Arsenal Women.
Nadim will see out the remainder of the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League season with her current club, Portland Thorns FC, before becoming an official Manchester City player in January 2018.
