Manchester United are in the advanced stages of signing the Canada midfielder Simi Awujo on a three-year-contract.
The Guardian understands that, subject to a visa being approved for the 20-year-old, Awujo is poised to complete her move to the Women’s Super League club after positive talks.
Awujo has most recently been playing in the collegiate system in the United States, representing the University of Southern California’s USC Trojans team. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, she represented the United States at youth level before switching her allegiance to Canada’s youth programme in 2022 and made her senior debut for Canada that year as an 18-year-old. She has 19 caps and was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
The club hope she will bolster their midfield after the summer departures of Katie Zelem and Irene Guerrero.
Awujo would be Marc Skinner’s fifth summer transfer after the arrivals of the Netherlands defender Dominique Janssen, the France forward Melvine Malard, the Norway striker Elisabeth Terland and the Sweden full-back Anna Sandberg.
It is believed the Women’s FA Cup winners are also aiming to recruit a goalkeeper, in the wake of Mary Earps’ switch to Paris Saint-Germain.
The WSL season gets under way on the weekend of 21-22 September, with United hosting West Ham at Old Trafford. That is one of three matches the team will play at Old Trafford this season rather than at their usual home of Leigh Sports Village, along with the visit of Crystal Palace in February and May’s derby against Manchester City on the penultimate weekend.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have signed the England youth international goalkeeper Eve Annets from Reading following the Berkshire club’s drop from the Championship to the fifth tier of the pyramid.
The 18-year-old has signed a four-year contract with Gareth Taylor’s side. She described completing her move as feeling “incredible” and added: “The last 12 months have been eventful, full of highs and lows. I made my England debut for the Under-19s, which was a great experience. Downs: I think we’ve had some at Reading, but we’ve had such a great group of girls and coaches and staff there.
“My family are from Manchester. My parents were both born and raised here so I have got a lot of relatives about. I don’t know it that well myself so I’m keen to grow and learn in the city.”
