‘Best league in the world’: Rebecca Knaak joins Manchester City in WSL | OneFootball

Manchester City have moved quickly to fill the void left by the injured Alex Greenwood by signing the German defender Rebecca Knaak from Rosengård on the opening day of the winter transfer window. The 28-year-old has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract after three years in Sweden.

City are light at the back, with influential England centre-back Greenwood having undergone knee surgery on a medial collateral ligament (MCL) after she was taken off on a stretcher during the club’s Champions League defeat of St Pölten in December.

The Damallsvenskan season finished on 9 November with Rosengård winning the title for the second time during Knaak’s spell at the club. She was named the league’s defender of the year as the Swedish champions dominated defensively, losing just once and conceding only nine times in 26 games.

“It feels exciting to be here,” said Knaak. “The WSL is the best league in the world right now. When I heard about the interest, I didn’t have to think about it because it’s such a big, big opportunity which I wanted to take.”

The defender follows City women’s new director of football, Therese Sjögran, who had been sporting director at Rosengård prior to joining City on 29 October.

“It was helpful for me that I already know Therese,” said Knaak. “I really trust her and her abilities, so it gives me a good feeling. The club has the highest ambitions and goals, and this also matches my own ambitions.”

Sjögran added: “Rebecca played some of the best football of her career to date last season – culminating in her being named the Damallsvenskan defender of the year - and I’m pleased to bring such a seasoned professional to the club. She gives her all on and off the pitch, which will help us challenge for trophies. I’m looking forward to seeing Rebecca make her mark.”

Header image: [Photograph: Declan Lloyd/Manchester City FC]