One of the game’s finest talents, the England international has returned to City from Lyon, and signed a two-year contract.
Here’s a selection of comments which illustrate just how highly Lucy is rated by her peers, coaches and pundits:
Steph Houghton, City and England captain: “She is very driven and wants to be the best. She is very competitive no matter whether it’s a 10m race, or a game of cards. I think you always want her on your team.
“Off the field, she is always right about everything, in the know and full of facts. But in all seriousness she is a lovely girl. She is great credit to herself and her family. I’m privileged to play alongside her.”
Jill Scott, City and England midfielder: “Lucy just seems to run and run and run and never really tire, and that’s something coming from a player Lionesses’ boss Phil Neville says is built like a marathon runner.
“But Lucy is a special athlete and has been instrumental in driving both England and Lyon on again this year. She is ever present in both line-ups, which is no easy feat in the squads she finds herself in.”
Georgia Stanway, City and England forward: “She’s a phenomenal player. Her physical condition allows her to do whatever she wants.”
Aoife Mannion, City and England defender: “She’s a player that I think: ‘Wow, she’s worked really, really hard to get where she is’. Her fitness and physical capacity, when I go on camps and I try to compete with her, I can’t compete, she’s too good!
“Something that’s getting me through my rehab is thinking: ‘Can I get back to a point where I can compete physically with Lucy Bronze?’”
Izzy Christiansen, Everton and England midfielder: “She’s got everything. She plays at full-back and changes games. She plays in midfield and runs games. Such a complete footballer.”
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Phil Neville, England manager: “Lucy Bronze is the best player in the world, without a shadow of a doubt. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it three times. There’s no player like her in the world.
There’s no player that’s got her athleticism or her quality. I’ve played full-back, but never, ever, ever to that level. She’s the best player in the world.”
Reynald Pedros, former Lyon manager: “Lucy Bronze is an incredible, fantastic player who gives a lot of momentum … It is every coach’s dream, a player who naturally possesses the talent, the physical condition and the intelligence.”
Paul Yeadon, former Alnwick Town manager: “No-one hides away from the fact she’s one of our best players. She’s playing top level football around top players. What she demands of herself, she’ll demand of the others.
“You could tell from day one that she had something special about her. She was really determined to be a footballer from a young age. She wanted to be the best and lead by example.”
Fara Williams, Reading and England midfielder: “I played with her at Club level and I see how hard she trains and how hard she works. She wants to be the best. I’d certainly put her up there as one of the best right-backs in the world.”
Fran Kirby, Chelsea and England forward: “When she gets the ball and she’s driving with it, there’s not many that can stop her.”
Faye White, former England defender: “Lucy is both agile, mobile and has a great willingness to do everything for the team. She has tremendous mental strength and her defensive partnership with Steph Houghton is one that could stand City and England in good stead for years to come.”
Lucy Ward, football commentator and former forward: “When you’re as good as her you can afford to be confident. She works so hard and she’s such a good player. She’s developed into a world-class player - one of the best in the world.”
Michael Owen, former England striker: “Lucy Bronze in particular, I think she’s excellent. She plays almost in second gear. I think she’s world-class.”
Hanna Glas, FC Bayern Munich and Sweden defender: “I think that Lucy Bronze is the world’s best full-back and I sometimes wish that I could have the same courage she has and shows out on the pitch.
Alex Scott, former England right-back: “To take my place, she had to become stronger, she had to become fitter, as well as all the other attributes – and that’s what she did. She went away and built herself into a machine, basically.”
Rachel Yankey OBE, former England forward: “Driving forward from that right-back position, she’s such a powerful player and it’s so exciting to watch her play.”
