Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw have all been included on the 30-player shortlist for what is considered the most prestigious individual award in world football.
Awarded by French magazine France Football, the winners in each category will be announced at a ceremony taking place at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday 28 October.
Yui Hasegawa
Arguably the finest ‘number six’ in world football, Hasegawa’s second campaign at City was just as impressive as her first, and has earned her another spot in the Ballon d’Or shortlist.
She kept her place in the PFA WSL Team of the Year, with only Chloe Kelly and Mary Fowler able to match her 30 appearances in all competitions for Gareth Taylor’s side.
Precise and positive on the ball and tenacious off it, Hasegawa is often the metronome that keeps this well-oiled machine ticking.
But what’s so exciting for City fans is that the Japan international is here to stay, having signed a two-year contract extension to 2027 back in January.
Lauren Hemp
With 21 goal involvements in 27 appearances, Hemp enjoyed yet another fantastic individual campaign, figuring in the PFA WSL Team of the Year for a third time in four seasons.
Finding the net in two of our three Manchester derby wins last season, the England international was once again often the player her team-mates would turn to when in need of inspiration.
Hemp was there to provide that spark time and again, most notably in a gutsy 2-1 win over Aston Villa in December 2023, before a remarkable scorpion kick sparked a win against a stubborn Leicester side two months later.
Like Hasegawa, she too committed her long-term future to the Club by signing a contract extension until 2027.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw
Despite not quite matching her 31 strikes across 2022/23, Shaw perhaps enjoyed her finest season to date last year, breaking individual, Club and league goal records.
The Jamaica international won the WSL Golden Boot with 21 goals in just 18 appearances and also became the Club’s record goalscorer when she netted against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in March 2024.
With an impressive turn of pace, remarkable aerial ability and a clinical finish, Shaw was often the driving force behind City’s attack, and was once again named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year for 2023/24.
To add to that list, she also claimed individual awards in the form of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year.
Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate our players on their nominations.
The full Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist is:
Barbra Banda - Shanghai RCB/Orlando Pride
Aitana Bonmati - Barcelona
Lucy Bronze - Barcelona/Chelsea
Mariona Caldentey - Barcelona/Arsenal
Tabitha Chawinga - PSG
Grace Geyoro - PSG
Manuela Giugliano – Roma
Patricia Guijarro - Barcelona
Caroline Graham Hansen - Barcelona
Guilia Gwinn - Bayern Munich
Yui Hasegawa – City
Ada Hegerberg - Lyon
Lauren Hemp – City
Lindsey Horan - Lyon
Lauren James - Chelsea
Marie-Antoinette Katoto - PSG
Alyssa Naeher - Chicago Red Stars
Sjoeke Nusken - Chelsea
Ewa Pajor - Wolfsburg/Barcelona
Salma Paralluelo - Barcelona
Gabi Portilho - Corinthians
Alexia Putellas - Barcelona
Mayra Ramirez - Chelsea
Trinity Rodman - Washington Spirit
Lea Schuller - Bayern Munich
Khadija Shaw - City
Sophie Smith - Portland Thorns
Mallory Swanson - Chicago Red Stars
Tarciane - Houston Dash
Glodis Viggosdottir - Bayern Munich
