The 19-year-old striker joins from Division 1 Feminine outfit Montpellier HSC and arrives in England with a reputation as one of the game’s most exciting young talents.
She was recently awarded Australia’s PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year accolade and was named second in NXGN Football’s 2022 Women’s Next Generation shortlist in March which highlights the best young up and coming players in the world.
Speaking about her decision to join City, Fowler said: “I’m really excited and proud to be joining this Club – it’s a team that I’ve always wanted to play for, so I’m honoured to have this opportunity.
“I really admire the team’s style of play – when City play, you see football and how beautiful it is, and you can really fall in love with the game just by watching them, both the women and the men’s teams.
“As much as I love winning, I enjoy doing it while playing attractive football and that was a huge part of my decision to join.
“I’m still young and I’ve got a lot to learn, so being at a club like Manchester City where I’ll be surrounded by amazing staff and coaches, as well as playing alongside and against some of the best players in the world, I feel that I have everything I need to fulfil my potential.”
Born in Cairns, Australia on Valentine’s Day in 2003, Fowler comes from a footballing family with her elder siblings Caoimhin and Ciara having both played for the Republic of Ireland’s youth sides (courtesy of their father’s heritage), while the latter also represented Australia at Under-20 level.
One of five children, she spent her formative years both in her native Australia with Saints FC, BVV Barendrecht and ESA alongside a spell with Dutch club Leichhardt FC whilst residing in the Netherlands as a teenager.
Her first foray into senior football however came in 2019 with Illawara Stingrays in the NSW National Premier League and following brief spells with them and Bankstown City in Sydney, she made her W-League debut with Adelaide United and marked the occasion with a goal.
The game was also a special one for the Fowler family, with Ciara making her first senior appearance that day alongside her sister.
Quickly attracting admirers across the world, the forward signed for French side Montpellier HSC on a three-year contract in January 2020 and made her bow for the club against Olympique Lyonnais a month later.
Although that season was later to come to a premature end due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following campaign saw Fowler hit the ground running in Division 1 Feminine, scoring five goals in 15 games and impressing once again in 2021/22 as Montpellier finished fifth in the league standings.
On the international scene, the striker has been part of the Matildas’ senior set-up since making her debut for them in July 2018 and to date, has seven goals in 24 appearances for her country.
Part of Australia’s squad for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she was involved in the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where she scored against Great Britain in the quarter-finals, before the Matildas were narrowly beaten by Sweden in the last four of the tournament.
Head Coach Gareth Taylor added: “Mary is a without doubt one of the most exciting young talents in the game right now and we’re absolutely thrilled to have her join us here at City.
“She has a maturity beyond her years but for her, she’s excited to come to England to learn and grow as a player.
“The fact that she made her senior international debut at just 15 really does show what high regard she is held in by the football world and we feel as though she’ll fit right in here with our team at City.
“Having her put pen to paper on a four-year deal also speaks volumes about our own commitment and also ours as a Club to her development, and we can’t wait to start working with her.”
Manchester City Season Tickets for the 2022/23 women’s team season are now are available.
More information about the process, the options available next season, and the benefits of being a Season Ticket Holder can also be found in the dedicated Season Ticket Hub.
