Manchester United have confirmed the signing of young defender Jayde Riviere following visa approval.
The 21-year-old is an Olympic gold medallist as part of the Canadian national squad that beat Sweden on penalties back in 2021, and has 36 caps while being described as a forward-thinking right-back and a budding talent.
She arrives from the semi-professional United Soccer League club AFC Ann Arbor, where she moved in April last year straight from college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 2019-2022.
Having played just four games for the USL League Two side and not declaring for January’s US National Women’s Soccer League draft, the Canadian joins United in the top tier of English football alongside international teammate Adrianna Leon.
At only 16, Riviere made her debut for the Canadian national team against the USA after successfully progressing through the youth ranks while also winning two silver CONCACAF medals in her tenure.
Currently in the right-back position for United is top Spanish talent Ona Batlle who is out of contract at the end of this season although there is an option to extend, with the same applying to left-back Hannah Blundell who has grown in confidence in her recent performances this season.
Both full-backs’ exciting overlapping play on the flanks has escalated United’s attacking threat with Batlle already on six assists while also finding the net herself at Old Trafford in the 5-0 win over Aston Villa in December.
Looking at Skinner's other options; Blundell and Leah Galton's link-up play to get the ball forward has helped United’s attacking threat exponentially while almost scoring her second of the season at the back post on Sunday against Liverpool.
While Aoife Mannion also comes back into the squad after her anterior cruciate ligament injury, a highly experienced defender in the top tier who can slot into their full-back position effortlessly although primarily a centre-back. Her contract is also up in the summer.
The signing may disgruntle current defenders struggling to get minutes such as Maria Thorisdottir, who has five WSL appearances this year out of ten compared to 20 out of 22 last season. The Norwegian international also has until the end of the 2022/23 season with the club, with an option to extend until the summer of 2024.
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