Layla Drury Set to Become Manchester United Women's Youngest Professional Signee

Manchester United Women’s youngest ever player, Layla Drury, is set to become the youngest player to sign a professional contract with the WSL club.

The 17-year-old is set to sign a deal with the club for whom she made her senior debut in January in an FA Cup tie against Burnley. Drury also scored in that 5-0 victory, becoming Manchester United Women’s youngest goalscorer.

While still only 16 the forward made seven appearances in total all competitions for Manchester United last season, including five substitute appearances in the WSL.

She has played at youth international level for both Wales and England, switching her allegiance to England in February. It is understood United’s plan is that Drury will spend next season with United’s first team on a full-time basis.

The Wales-born youngster will be the first player to sign a deal with United prior to her 18th birthday. Her debut in January came at the age of 16 years and 220 days, breaking a record that was previously set by Lauren James in 2018.

Her progress will be seen as a success story for United’s academy, with the club understood to be determined to develop their own young players, with a view to helping make their women’s team operate sustainably in the future.

Elsewhere, the WSL side London City Lionesses have announced the signing of the Germany forward Nicole Anyomi on a four-year contract, following the end of her contract at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Anyomi, who scored 60 times in 130 games for Frankfurt and was part of the Germany squad that reached 2022’s European Championship final against England at Wembley, told London City Lionesses’ club media channels: “I always wanted to play abroad and to have the offer from this club with their project means the world.”