Shaw signs new Man City deal after contract U-turn
· Yahoo Sports
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw has signed a new four-year contract with the club, just days after it looked like she would be leaving the Women's Super League champions this summer.
Visit afnews.co.za for more information.
The Jamaica forward finished as the WSL's top scorer for a third successive season, netting 21 goals in 22 games as City won the title for the first time since 2016.
Chelsea had been favourites to sign her as a free agent after contract renewal discussions broke down.
But Shaw, 29, announced her new contract until 2030 on stage at City's end of season celebrations, where she received the player of the season trophy.
"I am still here, I am still hungry and there is no place I would rather be," she said.
Shaw added that she was "happy to announce I will be staying at the football club", before being mobbed by her team-mates.
This season she also won the Football Writers' Association women's footballer of the year award and was named WSL player of the season.
City face Brighton in the Women's FA Cup final on Sunday as they hunt a domestic double.
Shaw has scored 26 goals and provided seven assists in 31 appearances in all competitions so far this term.
Since joining City in 2021, she has 117 goals in 137 appearances and is the club's record goalscorer.
"It's a huge statement from City that we've secured the services of one of the best centre-forwards in the world," said director of football Therese Sjogran.
Analysis - Man City make statement before transfer window opens
This is the biggest contract U-turn in memory involving a high-profile WSL player, with Shaw on the verge of leaving City just a few days ago.
After renewal discussions broke down, Shaw would have been available on a free transfer - with Chelsea poised to make a lucrative offer to bring the striker to London.
City fans did everything they could to ensure Shaw felt their adoration, chanting "we want Bunny to stay" on repeat at the Albert Hall last week as the club celebrated their first WSL title in a decade.
The saga continued to roll on as Shaw won individual accolades, including the WSL player of the season and Golden Boot.
But as fans pushed for clarity and noise in the media grew, so did City's desperation to agree a new deal with Shaw - and it is understood the forward agreed the contract in the past 24 hours
The reaction to her imminent departure enforced her belief City was where she wanted to continue her career, having called the club her "home" in numerous interviews.
Sources close to the player say she is happy with the four-year deal, which provides a wage package she believes reflects her status as one of the world's best players.
While celebrating City's WSL success in the Co-Op Live after party of a club parade on Monday, Shaw was asked to address the "elephant in the room" in front of 19,000 fans.
She looked rather sheepish, before saying: "I'm still here. I'm still hungry and there is no place I would rather be. I'm happy to announce that I will be staying at the football club."
It is likely to be the most significant piece of business by any club in the WSL this summer - and the transfer window has not yet opened.
[BBC]Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed