Rose becomes City’s first summer signing | OneFootball

Manchester City are delighted to announce the signing of Canada international defender Jade Rose, subject to international clearance and work visa.

The 22-year-old, who will join City on 1 July, has signed a four-year contract with the Club which will keep her at the Joie Stadium until the summer of 2029.

A versatile centre-back who can also play at full-back, she becomes the Blues’ first summer signing ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

She has played club football for NDC Ontario and FC Premier Women before switching to the Blues and has represented Canada 28 times after making her international debut in a February 2021 SheBelieves Cup clash with Argentina.

Rose was already considered one of her nation’s most exciting young talents, but in 2023 that reputation was further cemented when she was named 2023 Canada Soccer Women’s Young Player of the Year.

Her exceptional qualities have also been built on foundations laid in collegiate football (soccer) after joining Harvard for the 2021/22 school year.

WATCH: Rose details key attributes after City arrival

Individual recognition would follow soon after with Rose named to the All-Ivy First Team, All-East Region First Team and the Top Drawer Soccer First-year Best XI.

She was also one of only three Ivy League players included in the United Soccer Coaches' 2022 Women's Players to Watch list, as well as the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.

After putting pen to paper at City, Rose said: “I’m so incredibly excited [to join City], so proud of how far I’ve come, and I just can’t wait to get started. I think the history of the Club, the fans, the style of play, the city, everything [attracted me to City].

“I’m just super excited to get started. I’m ready to win the Champions Leagues, to win every trophy that’s out there. I think the sky is the limit for this team and I can’t wait to grow and get at it.”

Upon completing the signing of the Canadian, Director of Football Therese Sjogran said: “Jade is a talented young player we’ve been monitoring for a while now and we’re delighted to bring her in.

“She arrives here with an incredible amount of experience under her belt for club and country, and she will certainly have the opportunity to showcase her skills here at City.

“From speaking to her it’s clear she’s hungry to improve on her already impressive talents, and we think she will be a great fit for our squad on and off the pitch with the people she will have around her. Jade can become an important player for City, both now and in the future.”

Everyone at Manchester City is pleased to welcome Jade to the Club and we wish her all the very best during her time here.

STAR OF THE SHOW

That’s how The Guardian described Rose’s performance against the mercurial Sam Kerr in Canada’s 2-1 win over Australia in September 2022.

A quick glance at the defender’s individual highlights from the victory not only shows why she gained such a sparkling review but also provides a glimpse at what her game is all about.

Pace, strength, tough tackling and composure was all on show as she delivered a performance beyond her youthful years to thwart the threats of Kerr - one of the most dangerous forwards in world football.

What’s more, she then provided an assist for Adriana Leon’s second of the game when bringing the ball out of defence, carving out the opening before feeding the striker with a perfectly weighted pass in behind.

Sport had always been at the heart of her path to cementing a place as a Canada senior team regular with her father an American footballer and her mother a ringette player.

Their influence encouraged Jade, her brother and sister - fellow Canada international Nyah – to play a variety of sports growing up including volleyball, basketball, cross-country running, track and field, badminton and swimming.

But it was football where Jade truly excelled and, at 14, she was recruited into Canada Soccer’s youth programme before she won a bronze medal 2018 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship.

She then gained valuable experience at various major youth tournaments before representing Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

As she seamlessly progressed through her nation’s youth ranks, she was honing her craft in collegiate football (soccer) while pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in economics while playing for Harvard Crimson.

Accolades in college football followed before she represented NDC Ontario and FC Premier Women ahead of her switch to Manchester City.

Now she’s at the Joie Stadium and ready to showcase her impressive qualities on the Barclays Women’s Super League.