Bronze, Walsh, Weir: Will Man City regret losing so many first-team players? | OneFootball

Things couldn’t have gone much worse for Man City so far this season.

Two league games played, two defeats and another early exit in Champions League qualification against Real Madrid for the second year in succession.

To make matters worse, it was their former playmaker Caroline Weir who dealt the knockout blow for Madrid, having left City to join the Spanish side this summer.

Weir is one of a number of high-profile first-team players who left the Citizens in the transfer window.

And while Gareth Taylor’s side brought in a number of new additions, the jury is out on whether they’ve done enough business to challenge at the top of the table this season.

Which players have left Man City?

In total, City lost 11 players in the last transfer window, including some of the club’s most integral figures.

Former Ballon d’Or winner Lucy Bronze departed for Barcelona, while fellow English Euro 2022 hero Keira Walsh joined her for a world-record women’s transfer fee.

Georgia Stanway was another Lioness to move elsewhere in Europe –– joining German side Bayern Munich.

Aside from losing their English core, the aforementioned Weir is now at Madrid, while Olympic gold medallist Janine Beckie has moved to the NWSL to play for Portland Thorns.

City’s miserable summer of outgoings was further compounded with the retirement of WSL icons Karen Bardsley, Jill Scott and Ellen White.

Talented youngster Jess Park also went on loan to Everton and showed her class in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Who have Man City signed?

Though City lost a plethora of talent, they did succeed in signing some established European stars.

Deyna Castellanos is a prolific goalscorer and performed brilliantly during her time at Atletico Madrid.

Leila Ouhabi was part of the imperious Barcelona side that dominated Spanish football last year and is an experienced international full-back.

Moreover, former Everton goalkeeper Sandy MacIver will provide necessary competition for Ellie Roebuck in goal.

Australian teenager Mary Fowler was perhaps City’s most notable signing of the window.

The 19-year-old has 26 international caps already and looks to be a future star in waiting.

Will City regret selling so many stars?

On paper, City still have a strong side and many of their additions no doubt have the ability to succeed in the Women’s Super League.

Yet, with so many influential figures gone, the atmosphere in the dressing room has clearly shifted and Taylor now faces the tough task of integrating a number of new faces quickly.

So far, it hasn’t happened. City conceded four against Aston Villa on the opening weekend and fell short against Chelsea, despite playing well in periods.

Having already fallen six points behind rivals Man United and Arsenal, time is surely running out for Taylor to get the best out of his new additions.

It’s by no means an impossible task and City can most certainly turn things around. The question is, though, how quickly can they do it?

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