The 28-year-old England international returns to the Academy Stadium on a two-year deal, following the conclusion of her contract with Olympique Lyonnais, which brings the curtain down on a trophy-laden three-year spell in France.
After playing a key role in City’s FA Women’s Super League, Continental Cup and FA Cup successes between 2014 and 2017, Bronze departed for the European Champions and helped the French outfit to three consecutive Champions League and Division 1 Feminine league titles, alongside two Coupe de France Féminine victories and one Trophée des Championnes.
Having achieved an impressive sweep of silverware in France, City’s new #20 Bronze says the time had come for a new challenge, adding she had always hoped to return to City and the ever-growing FA WSL.
Speaking about her homecoming, she said: “I’m really happy to be back here at City – I always had it in my mind that I would return one day, and it just feels like the perfect time and opportunity right now.
“I really enjoyed my time in France, but there were so many things that I missed and it’s great to be back.
“I feel like I’m returning as a better leader and person, who is capable of bringing similar success to the table here in England – both domestically with City and internationally too.
“Having already experienced everything that City have to offer as a Club, it was a no-brainer for me when the offer came in and there isn’t another team in England that I would have looked at.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than with Manchester City and I’m really excited to see what the future holds with the exciting squad we have here.”
Born in Berwick-upon-Tweed, the full-back started her career with Sunderland – coupled with a brief spell in North Carolina – before two-year stints apiece with Everton and Liverpool, winning successive WSL titles with the latter.
City was Bronze’s next port of call in 2014 however, and during her three years with the Club, she played an integral part in the team’s double-winning campaign of 2016.
Her own efforts during that season meanwhile saw her named PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, FA WSL Players’ Player of the Year and City’s Women’s Player of the Season.
It was during her first spell in Manchester that she also began to flourish on the international stage with England, and after helping the Lionesses to a third-place finish in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she earned a place in the tournament’s All-Star Squad.
Chasing her dream of European glory, she joined Lyon in the summer of 2017 and went on to enjoy a period of sustained domestic and continental success – a feat she hopes to replicate with City – in addition to several individual accolades.
Awarded the title of BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year twice and a place in the FIFA FIFPro Women’s World 11 twice, she was also named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2019.
Reflecting on Bronze’s return, Head Coach Gareth Taylor spoke of his delight, saying: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see Lucy return to Manchester City and I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that we’re delighted to have her back at the Club.
“She is an unrivalled talent and her endless individual and team awards only scratch the surface of what a superb player she is, not only at Club level, but also internationally with England.
“She joins us off the back of a hugely successful few years in France and being able to add a player of her quality to our already ambitious squad is incredibly exciting.”
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Head of Women’s Football Gavin Makel added: “Lucy has received many accolades over the years, and rightly so.
“What impresses me most about her however is that despite what she has already achieved in the game, she still maintains that hunger for even more success whilst having the desire to continue to develop.
“That sheer focus and mentality is one of the main reasons why she is regarded as one of the best players in the world and I couldn’t be happier to welcome her back to the Club.”
