'Friends already!' - Lionesses star Lauren Hemp explains what Vivianne Miedema will bring to Manchester City following acrimonious Arsenal exit

Miedema left Arsenal after seven years in the summer and moved on a free transfer to Manchester City. The Dutch star has since revealed she opted to move on as she no longer felt the right fit for the Gunners. Arsenal have been criticised for allowing Miedema to leave. WSL legend Ellen White branded her exit a "shocking decision" by the club, while fans have also vented their fury and called for the club to offer a new contract.

Miedema has now signed for Manchester City and will hope to fire the team to glory after they finished as runners-up behind Chelsea in the Women's Super League last season. The Dutch star will link up with players including Khadija Shaw, Jill Roord and Leila Ouahabi as well as Lionesses Alex Greenwood, Khiara Keating, and Chloe Kelly. Hemp is also a new team-mate and thinks City have made an excellent signing.

Hemp said: "I've met a her lot and come up against her on the pitch a lot of times. We've actually exchanged shirts as well, after I've played against Holland, so I see us as friends already! But hopefully that relationship will get even stronger going into the season. I think she'll be a great addition to the team. She’s a player who can do it all and who I’ve looked up to for a long time.  Obviously, we've got a fellow Dutchie in [Manchester City midfielder] Jill Roord, who unfortunately tore her ACL, but she's been a very pivotal player in our squad, so hopefully Viv will be able to do the same."

Lauren Hemp was speaking at a KP Snacks Everyone In event at Cheetham Hill Sports Club in Manchester, the site of one of 100 all-weather community cricket pitches they will install across England and Wales by 2025.

Miedema is set for a swift return to Arsenal as Manchester City will take on the Gunners in their opening fixture of the new WSL season.

KP Snacks, the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, is continuing its Everyone In initiative to build 100 new community cricket pitches across England and Wales, with 35 brand new pitches going down in 2024. To find out more and search for your nearest pitch, visit: www.everyonein.co.uk/pitchfinder