The Women’s Super League’s leading scorer, Khadija Shaw, is close to agreeing a new contract at Manchester City, despite interest from Chelsea, the Guardian understands.
Talks between City and the Jamaica striker are understood to have progressed positively in recent weeks and, although the fine details of an extension are being worked on and nothing has been signed, there is confidence that she will stay with the league leaders.
Shaw won the WSL’s Golden Boot in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and is on course to retain that honour. She has scored 15 times in 16 league appearances this season and no other WSL player has reached double figures. Her irrepressible form means there has been plenty of interest, and the Times reported on Wednesday that Chelsea were eyeing up Shaw, but multiple sources have said Shaw and City are progressing well towards a new deal.
Shaw joined City from Bordeaux in 2021 on a three-year deal that in 2023 was extended to 2026, and she is inside the final four months of her contract.
Renewing the 29-year-old’s deal has been a high priority for City. She has been their star player again this season and integral to their eight-point lead at the top of the table. She will be among the heavy favourites to be the WSL’s player of the season.
Shaw has 77 WSL goals and will look to add to that at Aston Villa on Sunday, having scored three in four WSL games before the international break.
Meanwhile, Guro Reiten has left Chelsea after six trophy-laden years to sign for Gotham FC in the US. Reiten scored 59 goals in 207 appearances across all competitions with the Blues. The 31-year-old Norway international joins Gotham on loan until the end of her Chelsea contract in the summer, and has signed a deal until 2029 for when the loan ends.
Reiten, who won 13 trophies during her time at the club from 2019, including six Women’s Super League titles, four Women’s FA Cups and three Women’s League Cups, posted a tearful farewell to supporters on Chelsea’s website.
