The Spaniard, who has 14 starts and two assists to her name this season, has committed to a new deal that will see her stay at the Joie Stadium until the summer of 2026.
The 30-year-old defender joined City on 1 July 2022 from Primera Division champions, FC Barcelona Femeni.
Speaking about her contract extension, she said: “I feel so comfortable playing here. For me, this is the best league.
“I’m really settled and think I’m a much better player. I love City’s style of play. The fans too – their support every day and every weekend keep us competitive and improving every match.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor added: “We’re really pleased that Leila has extended her stay with the Club.
“When we signed her two years ago, I said we were very much looking forward to seeing her make her mark on the English game and she’s done just that. Leila is a great talent and we’re looking forward to seeing what more she can achieve here at City.”
Flying full-back
Leila Ouahabi joined City with an incredible collection of medals from her time at Barcelona.
Fresh from another UEFA Champions League triumph, the Spanish defender admitted that Gareth Taylor’s side, who she’d faced in the 2020/21 European campaign, were a team who’d piqued her curiosity.
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“Manchester City have always been a team that caught my eye. I like their style of football so much and the DNA of the Club is very exciting,” she explained in her first interview after signing in July 2022.
“This is going to be a completely different experience for me, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
It was a different experience for many at City, with Ouahabi one of several fresh faces which created a new-look side ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
And the 30-year-old adapted well to her first season outside of Spanish football, but has really come into her element in the current campaign.
As is the case across the board at City, the free-flowing style that Gareth Taylor has our current crop playing places a heavy demand on the full-backs.
Dropping into central areas to support in build-up play, they need to be confident and positive in possession, and prepared to take calculated risks to help the team build from deep.
While never forgetting her defensive duties, Ouahabi excels in this sphere, with the typical technical panache that her native Spain is so famed for in the footballing world.
But the left-back’s willingness to stretch the opposition out wide perhaps offers a refreshing alternative for City.
Armed with an impeccable left-footed delivery, it’s a common occurrence to see Ouahabi get beyond her winger and cut back from the by-line or provide an inch-perfect cross from a deeper position.
The latter of those was demonstrated with devastating effect in City’s rampant 7-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in November, when Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw met the Spaniard’s sweeping cross with a towering header to open the scoring.
But to solely celebrate Ouahabi’s qualities on the ball would be doing a disservice to her importance in defensive situations.
Indeed, when the left-back has been in the team, City have conceded just seven times so far in the WSL this season.
After a frustrating start to the campaign, when she was shown a straight red against West Ham United on the opening day of the season (much to hers and her team-mates’ bemusement) the 30-year-old has come into her element.
Offering an important injection of experience into an exciting young team, her ability to impact a game both on and off the ball has proven indispensable for Taylor’s side.
Committing her future to the Club for a further two years, Ouahabi’s influence is sure to continue apace.
City career stats
2022/23:
Appearances: 23
Assists: 1
2023/24*:
Appearances: 14
Assists: 2
*Stats correct as of February 2024.
