The Dutch international’s move to the Joie Stadium in the summer of 2023 was a statement of intent from City.
Roord had played in the Champions League final a few months prior for VfL Wolfsburg and arrived in Manchester with a reputation as one of the finest attacking midfielders in the game.
She immediately hit the ground running, scoring on her debut against West Ham United while also finding the net in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford two months later.
By the new year she had eight goals and three assists in 16 matches for the Blues as our WSL title push began to take shape, but all of that came to an immediate halt in a League Cup clash with Manchester United in January 2024.
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By the new year she had eight goals and three assists in 16 matches for the Blues as our WSL title push began to take shape, but all of that came to an immediate halt in a League Cup clash with Manchester United in January 2024.
Hers and City’s worst fears were confirmed the following week - a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
A painstaking recovery process would follow, with Jill reflecting on that journey in intriguing, candid detail in ‘Roord to Recovery’.
But the Dutch international, incredibly, returned to action that September in City’s first WSL home match of the following campaign against Brighton.
With interviews from the team-mates and medical staff who helped make that remarkable turnaround possible, this feature demonstrates the phenomenal resolve and perseverance that it takes to return from long-term injury.
The full ‘Roord to Recovery’ documentary will be released by City Studios in the coming days.
Until then, watch the trailer above for a flavour of what to expect...
