London City Lionesses promote goalkeeper Gray to senior squad | OneFootball

London City Lionesses have promoted young goalkeeper Jessica Gray to their senior squad according to reports on the club’s official website.

The keeper has impressed within London City Lionesses’ Player Development Pathway (PDP) and Gray has today become the first young player to move into Melissa Phillips’ first team squad in what is an historic move by The Pride.

Gray has been handed the number 22 shirt by London City Lionesses and she will compete alongside fellow goalkeepers Shae Yanez and Anna Pedersen for the club’s first choice goalkeeping jersey.

Speaking following today’s news, London City Lionesses’ sporting director, Edward Gallagher, said “It’s great to have Jess move permanently into our first team squad to push our already strong goalkeeping department of Shae and Anna. Jess makes the transition having spent one season in our development squad and through her hard work has earned this opportunity.

“We’re now fortunate to have a full pathway at LCL and have had numerous academy players in training with the first team this season. With the quality of player we have coming through, we know that Jess won’t be the last player to make this transition.”

American keeper Yanez currently has two hands firmly placed on the London City Lionesses goalkeeping jersey. The 24-year-old has been an ever-present for The Pride in the FA Women’s Championship since arriving at the club in summer 2020. Youngster Gray will hope to learn from Yanez to become an excellent senior goalkeeper herself in time.