The midfielder makes the move to Manchester fresh from a UEFA Women’s Champions League Final appearance against Barcelona and returns to England after a two-year stay in the Frauen Bundesliga.
Formerly on the books of Arsenal between 2019 and 2021 – where she helped the Gunners to the final of the Continental Tyres League Cup and back-to-back top three finishes – the 26-year-old boasts an impressive pedigree in the game.
A seasoned international with the Netherlands with 86 caps to her name since 2015, Roord helped her country to UEFA Women’s European Championships success in 2017, as well as reaching the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019.
Playing 69 times for Wolfsburg in all competitions and scoring 31 goals, she will join up with City following this summer’s World Cup and will wear the number 20 shirt for the upcoming 2023/24 campaign.
Speaking after the news was confirmed, Roord said: “I’m very happy and it’s a very proud feeling for me to sign for Manchester City.
“I have always thought that this was a fantastic club with lots of quality, and I’m super excited to start here.
“I really like the way that they play, and I feel that it suits me perfectly. There’s a lot of quality in the team, and it’s a young side with plenty of potential which is very important to me.
“I’ve always thought that the Women’s Super League is very competitive, so playing in England again is like a dream – I feel like I have developed a lot as a player during my time in Germany.
“In my conversations with Gareth [Taylor], I heard everything that I wanted to hear – we think the same way about football which is important, and where he sees me in the team was ideal – it is the perfect fit.
“If you play for City, you compete for everything you are involved in and that is what we will be aiming to do – with the quality we have here, anything is possible so I hope that we will be very successful together.”
New chapter. New 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲. 🩵 pic.twitter.com/gpOLJjVtpT
— Jill Roord (@JillRoordNL) July 6, 2023
Head Coach Gareth Taylor added: “We’re really pleased to have been able to secure Jill’s signature and bring her to the Club.
“She has proven her worth in both England and Europe during her career so far, alongside on the international stage with the Netherlands – she is no stranger to success.
“She is a player whose calibre speaks for itself with what she has achieved, and we believe she will be a fantastic addition to our squad here at City.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming her aboard and working with her over the next three years.”
A serial winner
Claiming titles in two different countries as well as being named European Champion with the Netherlands, Jill Roord comes to City boasting a CV that would be the envy of many.
She would claim the first of those league championships at the end of her debut season with FC Twente, having made her debut at just 16.
Three more titles would follow in succession, as well as a national cup triumph in 2015 over AFC Ajax, a victory that remains as Twente’s last in the competition.
Still a teenager, Roord’s reputation as a precocious young attacking midfielder was rapidly developing, and an outstanding 20-goal season in 2015/16 – earning her the Eredivisie Golden Boot - certainly aided that rise.
Just over 12 months later, she was included in the Netherlands Squad for the 2017 European Championships, a tournament which the hosts would go on to win.
Roord, turning 20 just a few months prior, would make three substitute appearances as Sarina Wiegman’s side claimed their first and, so far, only major honour with a 4-2 win over Denmark in the final.
Another silver medal would follow that summer as the Netherlands were edged out in the World Cup final by the United States, with Roord grabbing a stoppage time winner for the Dutch in their opening group game against New Zealand.
Two years later, following a successful spell at Arsenal between 2019 and 2021, Roord would help Wolfsburg to a domestic double in her first season at the Club.
And while they were pipped to the title and edged out by FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final in her last campaign in Germany, she ended the season with another domestic Cup triumph.
At just 26, there’s still plenty of room for Roord to continue building on what has been a hugely successful career at the top of the game so far.
An exciting attacking midfielder, the Dutch international’s creativity and energy are complemented by a keen eye for goal, exemplified by her Golden Boot triumph at FC Twente, successive hat-tricks during her time at Arsenal, and an impressive 31 goals in 69 appearances at Wolfsburg.
She not only comes to the Academy Stadium with a wealth of experience under her belt but also, as demonstrated by the above credentials, a winner’s mentality.
After extending his stay as City boss, Gareth Taylor declared that the current squad have the potential to turn flashes of brilliance into ‘actual moments’ in the coming seasons.
With ten major honours and 86 senior international appearances so far, a signing of Roord’s calibre could be the key to transforming that ambition into reality.
Honours:
FC Twente: 2013-2017
Eredivise: 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16
KNVB Women’s Cup: 2014/15
FC Bayern Munich: 2017-2019
Bundesliga runners-up: 2017/18, 2018/19
Arsenal: 2019
Continental Cup finalist: 2020/21
FA Cup finalist: 2020/21
VfL Wolfsburg: 2021-2023
Bundesliga: 2021/22
DFB Pokal: 2021/22, 2022/23
Netherlands: 2015-present
European Championship: 2017
Algarve Cup: 2018
World Cup finalist: 2019
