Man City kickstart January transfer window with important defensive signing after losing Lionesses star Alex Greenwood to serious knee injury

Greenwood, City's club captain, had to be stretchered off in the first half of victory over St. Polten in the Champions League in mid-December and her absence was massively felt in the Cityzens' last two fixtures before the winter break. The defence looked particularly poor in a 2-1 loss to lowly Everton, a result which was followed by a 3-0 defeat at Barcelona which allowed the Catalans to clinch top spot in their Champions League group, rather than the English side.

Greenwood has had to have surgery after damaging the medial collateral ligament, making any quick return to action unlikely. Unsurprisingly, then, City have wasted no time in bolstering the back line, announcing the signing of former Germany youth international Rebecca Knaak on the first day of the January transfer window. The 28-year-old arrives from Swedish side Rosengard, where City's new director of football, Therese Sjogran, had been sporting director before moving to England back in October.

"It feels exciting to be here. I think the WSL is the best league in the world right now. When I heard about the interest, I didn’t have to think about it because it’s such a big, big opportunity which I wanted to take," Knaak said upon signing.

“It was helpful for me that I already know Therese. I really trust her and her abilities, so it gives me a good feeling. The club has the highest ambitions and goals, and this also matches my own ambitions. I’m very proud and I feel honoured to be part of this big club. I can’t wait to get started.”

Sjogran added: "Rebecca played some of the best football of her career to date last season – culminating in her being named the Damallsvenskan defender of the year - and I’m pleased to bring such a seasoned professional to the club. She gives her all on and off the pitch, which will help us challenge for trophies. I’m looking forward to seeing Rebecca make her mark.”

As well as that individual accolade Sjogran mentions, Knaak won three major trophies at Rosengard, including the 2024 Damallsvenskan title. Prior to joining the Swedish club, she played for Bad Neuenahr, Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg in her native Germany.

Knaak will be in line to make her Manchester City debut on January 12, when the team return from the winter break to face Ipswich Town in the FA Women's Cup fourth round. That game will be followed by back-to-back Manchester derbies, with City hosting United in the league on January 19 before visiting them three days later in the League Cup quarter-finals.