Shaw Named Football Writers' Women's Player of Year
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw has been awarded the Football Writers' Association Women's Footballer of the Year.
Shaw is on track to claim her third consecutive Women's Super League Golden Boot, having scored 19 goals in 21 appearances, with one league match remaining for the newly crowned champions City.
The 29-year-old, who joined Manchester City in 2021, is just one goal shy of becoming the first player in WSL history to score 20 or more goals in three separate seasons.
This marks the second time the Jamaica international has received the FWA award, having previously won it for the 2023–24 season.
However, Shaw appears likely to depart Manchester City this summer following stalled contract renewal talks.
Chelsea, who dominated the league with six consecutive titles before City's recent rise, are considered favourites to sign Shaw. Previously, Shaw had no intention of leaving City, but a breakdown in communications has led her to explore other options. Chelsea are reportedly offering at least one more year on a contract than City were willing to agree to.
Reports indicate Chelsea are prepared to pay Shaw up to £1 million annually. While Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor did not explicitly comment on Shaw's future, she acknowledged in a Thursday news conference that acquiring a number nine striker remains a high priority for the club.
On Friday, Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz stated:
"I still hope she's signing a new contract with Manchester City, definitely, but that's more of a discussion for the player and for people at the club.
Right now, the most important thing is to enjoy our player, and she's here to compete with us, and do everything she can."
Manchester City will face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday at 15:30 BST. The winner will advance to play either Liverpool or Brighton at Wembley on 31 May.
Analysis - Does More Global Recognition Beckon?
Shaw's prolific goalscoring has established her as one of the world's premier strikers, attracting interest from multiple clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
With her contract nearing expiration, Shaw appears poised to leave Manchester City after negotiations to extend her deal faltered. Chelsea are the frontrunners to sign her on a free transfer.
Losing Shaw would represent a significant setback for City, as she has frequently been their decisive player and a constant threat to opponents.
In previous seasons, City's title challenges suffered when Shaw was sidelined by injury. This season, however, she has started all 21 of their WSL matches, contributing consistently.
Among her standout performances this season were a hat-trick against Tottenham in March and a four-goal display versus Aston Villa in December.
Teammate Sam Coffey described Shaw as "a player in a video game" due to her ability to dominate defenders and score with apparent ease.
If Shaw continues to demonstrate her talents in the Women's Champions League next season, her accomplishments may gain greater international recognition, especially considering she has previously been overlooked in Ballon d'Or awards.
Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie have returned for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes are released every Tuesday on , featuring interviews and additional content from the Women's Super League and beyond.
