Republic of Ireland international Megan Campbell signs new Manchester City deal

Republic of Ireland international Megan Campbell has signed a new one-year contract with England's Super League champions Manchester City.

 

The Drogheda native has impressed since returning from an injury that threatened to destroy her dream move to England's richest club.

 

The full-back has been a mainstay in the Ireland set-up since making her debut in 2011 but has had to be patient in order to make an impression at the Etihad due to a litany of injuries.

 

“This Club is like a family and I’m really grateful to the players and staff for putting their trust in me,” Campbell told the club's official website.

 

“There’s quality on and off the pitch here. I’m pleased with the way I performed in the Spring Series and FA Cup but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the team.

 



“I’ve been trying to get back to full fitness, increasing my gametime. I’ve did everything I could to prove I was good enough to stay in the squad.

 

“Nick is an unbelievable manager to work under. I love how easy it is to talk to him and having the whole team behind me has made life so much easier.

 

“I wanted to make their minds up for them and thankfully, I was able to. It’s nice to perform well and impress in front of your manager.”

 



Campbell's injury nightmare began in March of 2016 when, shortly after signing for City from Florida State University, she tore ankle ligaments while playing in the Cyprus Cup with Ireland.

 

While rehabbing the original injury, she tore her quad, and when she recovered from that she rolled her other ankle in training and required reconstruction surgery, which put her out for six months.

 

Campbell made her comeback at the beginning of the current WSL short season, but she was surprised to find herself in the starting line-up for City's 4-1 FA Women's Cup final win over Birmingham City.

 

The 23-year-old set up two goals in that comprehensive win and has impressed enough in the weeks since – including scoring her first goal against Liverpool this month – to earn an extension.

 

Speaking to extratime.ie in May about her frustrating spell on the sidelines, and subsequent return in tiem to star at Wembley, Campbell said: “It's tough being injured as anyone would know who's gone through a serious injury or anything serious like that.

 

“It was nice to have that feeling of being on the grass with the team again, and obviously to have the manager's trust in me to be able to believe that I can do the job for him on the day at Wembley in front of 35,000 people and perform.”