Manchester United Women have completed the signing of defender Rebeca Bernal and seen young striker Layla Drury receive a surprise international call-up. The club, which finished fourth in the FA WSL last season with 40 points, is preparing for its opening match against London City Lionesses on September 4.
Who is new signing Rebeca Bernal?
Rebeca Bernal joins Manchester United Women from the Washington Spirit, according to a report from WJLA. The 29-year-old defender becomes the first Mexican player to compete in England's Women's Super League. Bernal started 17 matches for the Spirit during the 2026 NWSL season, scoring three goals, and made 50 total appearances for the club during her tenure.
Her arrival adds experience to a United backline that conceded 22 goals last campaign. Bernal is expected to be available immediately for manager Eva Olid as the team looks to improve on its fourth-place finish, which left them 15 points behind champions Manchester City W.
Why is Layla Drury's call-up significant?
Academy product Layla Drury has been added to England's squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland, the club confirmed. The 17-year-old forward, who became United's youngest-ever player and goalscorer last season, signed her first professional contract this summer. She will join fellow United youngster Lucy Newell in the England squad for the tournament running from September 5-27.
Drury's selection means she could miss several early season matches if England progress deep into the competition. This includes potential fixtures against title rivals Chelsea and Arsenal. Her development represents a bright spot for a United side that scored 38 goals last term, and fans can track her progress on our stats page.
What changes has new manager Eva Olid made?
Spanish coach Eva Olid took charge of Manchester United Women in August following Marc Skinner's departure, as reported by Sports Yahoo. Known for giving opportunities to younger players, Olid has overseen a pre-season of transition at the club. Several senior players have departed, with replacements including young talents like Andrea Medina and Monica Jusu Bah.
Olid will be tasked with guiding United back into title contention after they finished 15 points off the pace last season. The team's recent form of LDDLW shows inconsistency they'll need to address. Supporters can view the full squad list and upcoming fixtures on our squad and fixtures pages.
How does Lucy Bronze view the WSL landscape?
Chelsea and England defender Lucy Bronze believes the Women's Super League continues to grow in strength, she told ESPN. The veteran highlighted increased competition and better facilities, noting Arsenal now play at Emirates Stadium while Chelsea use Stamford Bridge. Bronze pointed to teams like Tottenham making significant signings as evidence of the league's depth.
This context makes United's challenge tougher as they seek to close the gap on the top three. The Red Devils will need to improve on their record of 11 wins, 7 draws and 4 losses from 22 games last season. Their opening match against a London City Lionesses side featuring new signing Alexia Putellas provides an immediate test of their credentials.
What is the club's current sporting direction?
Manchester United appointed Jason Wilcox as sporting director in 2025, according to The New York Times. He succeeded John Murtough, who spent three years in the role. This change is part of a broader trend of high turnover in Premier League sporting director positions, with many clubs seeing frequent changes in these key football operations roles.
The stability of United's football structure will be important as they build under Olid. The team begins its WSL campaign away to London City Lionesses on September 4, looking to start positively after a +16 goal difference last season.
