England defender Niamh Charles has joined defending WSL Champions Manchester City from rivals Chelsea for a fee of £500,000.
Charles spent six years in West London, winning a domestic treble in 20/21, as well as another four league titles, three more FA Cups, and two more League Cups.
Having initially played as a winger during her four years at Liverpool, Charles was converted into a full-back by manager Emma Hayes, and never seemed to look back, with her debut season ending with a start in the 2021 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, though the result did not reflect that as Chelsea were beaten 4-0 by Barcelona.
Charles' best season at the Blues came in 2023/24, when she earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Year, as Emma Hayes brought down her Chelsea career by pipping Manchester City to the title on the final day.
Excitement over signing for City
She has signed a three-year deal with City and has spoken of her excitement about joining the Champions.
“I’m really happy to be here, and I can’t wait to get started.
“I’ve seen from the outside and obviously played against City over the past few years; they’ve had great success this year, and I think what they’re building as a team- the players and the staff- it’s something I wanted to be a part of.
*“It suits me and fits me, the culture we’re building and the style of play. I just think it’s the perfect fit and hopefully we can have some good times together.*”
Wanting to win trophies
Niamh Charles signs for WSL Champions Man City(Photo by Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Charles won the WSL title for the fifth time in 2024/25, and will be hoping to add a sixth in the upcoming season with City.She spoke about wanting to continue winning more trophies,“It’s so exciting, and I think the girls have experienced it, but once you win one, you want to win it even more, and you want to do it every year, bigger and better.
“I'm really excited that the girls have been really successful this year and hopefully [we are able to] build on that next year, and become a winning machine.
“Obviously I’ve experienced that at Chelsea, the consistency year on year. From the outside, I’ve felt elements of that here, and that’s something that excites me about this team.
“It’s that it doesn’t just happen overnight; it’s the consistent things day to day in training at the start of the season that pay off at the end of the season. Having the experience of being in there and not quite doing it, keeping that core group together, you learn lessons, so you’re more prepared next time.
“Hopefully this team is in a really good position for the next few years, that they know each other really well and are really connected. And in the big moments they can produce.
“I think that comes from all the little things and a lot of time spent on the training pitch and off the pitch working on things.”
More added quality to the squad
The Euro 2025 champion becomes the second signing of the summer for Andrée Jeglertz side, who also welcomed Beth Mead on a free transfer from Arsenal earlier in the transfer window.
With the news that Bunny Shaw had also signed a new four year deal at the club back in May, Manchester City Women Director of Football, Therese Sjogran, spoke about how Charles was another piece in an exciting period for the club.
“To add a player of Niamh’s ability and experience to our squad after the success of last season is a huge positive.
“We’re all excited to see what she can bring to the squad in the coming season and, despite everything she’s already achieved in the game, we firmly believe her best years are still to come.
“She has the drive to become a better player every day and also challenge her team-mates to do the same, so for her to want to spend the next three years at City speaks volumes about what we’re trying to build here.”