Man Utd complete signing of Chelsea defender Maria Thorisdottir

Manchester United have completed the signing of Norwegian international Maria Thorisdottir from Women’s Super League rivals Chelsea. She will add depth to the squad at the back and directly replaces Abbie McManus, who joined Tottenham on loan earlier this week.

Thorisdottir is an experienced WSL defender, having joined Chelsea in 2017 and won titles in both 2017/18 and 2019/20. She has also won the FA Cup and Continental Cup during her time in England.

The 27-year-old has agreed a contract at Leigh Sports Village until the end of the 2022/23 season and the lure of playing for United was a factor in her decision to join the club. Not for the first time, a new signing has also heaped praise on manager Casey Stoney.

“I’m proud to be joining Manchester United. Growing up, the club was always big in Norway, so for me to now be a part of the women’s side is really exciting,” Thorisdottir told ManUtd.com.

“I’ve been impressed with the way the team have developed in a short space of time and have heard so many good things about Casey too, so I can’t wait to start working with her and the rest of the staff,” she added.

“I’m also really looking forward to getting to know my new teammates; this group is young and ambitious and to be part of that is great. The future is really bright for this team.”

Stoney called Thorisdottir a ‘a fantastic player and character who I think will fit in really well here.’

The boss said, “Her power and versatility as a defender is clear to see, and I know she will add some great competition to our defensive unit and really strengthen our options.”

Thorisdottir has played nearly 50 times for Norway and has represented her country at two World Cups in 2015 and 2019, as well as the last European Championship in 2017.

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