Manchester United’s Lucy Newell signs season-long loan deal with Birmingham City | OneFootball

Lucy Newell (Birmingham City)

WSL2 side Birmingham City have signed Lucy Newell on a season-long loan from Manchester United.

Newell spent her youth career in the Midlands, rising through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion and then agreeing a dual registration deal with Manchester United before turning fully professional, signing her first permanent contract on her 18th birthday in October 2024.

“I’m really excited to be here,” the defender said in an interview with Birmingham City’s TV channel. “It’s a massive club with huge ambition and I’m looking forward to bringing my skills to the team.”

She added: “WSL2 is a challenging league where the competition is really high. I think playing at Blackburn has taught me how competitive it can be and I can’t wait to play for Blues and fight for that promotion.”

During the 2023-24 campaign, she was part of United’s Under-21s title-winning side, and picked up the Women’s Academy Players’ Player of the Year award as well.

Lucy Newell: ‘Communication is a big part of my game’

Newell spent the start of 2025 on a very successful loan at Blackburn Rovers, which culminated in her being shortlisted for the Rising Star award at the 2024-25 Women’s Professional Game awards.

She made ten appearances and scoring one goal, against Durham in February, and helped Rovers avoid relegation as they finished tenth, although they subsequently withdrew from the second tier and will be competing in the fourth tier during the coming season.

Newell has played for England at under-16, under-18 and under-19 level, and has previously captained the Young Lionesses. She featured in the squad at the UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championship in June, helping them to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, to be held in Poland in September 2026.

“It was really cool,” she reflected on the recognition she has received. “It’s the biggest honour, playing for England, and wearing that badge, and to play at the highest level, in the Euros, you can’t beat it. The experience has really helped me and hopefully I can use it this season.”

She hopes that her international caps as well as her captaincy experience will stand her in good stead at Birmingham.

“Being a centre back, you’ve got to be a leader on the team, and communication is a big part of my game,” she added. “Hopefully we can work together and really bond.”

Birmingham City begin their WSL2 campaign on Sunday, 7th September, when they face Bristol City at St Andrew’s.