FA WSL runners-up Manchester City have announced the signing of Reading FC Women’s double-winning goalkeeper Eve Annets.
Annets – winner of the Berkshire Football Awards Young Player of the Year 2024 – won the Berks & Bucks County FA Cup and the South Premier Women’s League title last season as well as a host of plaudits for her on-pitch performances.
A statement released by the FA WSL side said: “Manchester City are pleased to announce the signing of England youth international Eve Annets until the summer of 2028.”
Annets said: “[It feels] amazing. I mean a club like this, to hear they’re interested in you is just a feeling that can’t be matched. And just the aspirations I’ve got, coming to a club like this is just incredible.”
The goalkeeper broke through into Reading FC Women’s first team last season playing Continental Cup games against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal as well as earning an England under-19 call up.
She said: “I’ve not had the easiest fixtures! I’ve really appreciated having those opportunities, being able to prove myself and just level myself up playing against the best players in the world and saying that’s where I want to be in the future.
“Playing against players that play for their country, have played in the Champions League, that have won the WSL, it’s just an incredible experience.
“These are things I want to do in the future, play for the Lionesses, win the Champions League, win the WSL.
“To compare myself to players like that and coming to City is just a great move to keep myself in that environment and keep myself growing.”
In March, Annets was the hero as Reading lifted the County Cup for the second time in three seasons.
Football in Berkshire wrote of the shootout win over MK Dons: “Reading goalkeeper Eve Annets was the hero for Royals, pulling off a couple of saves in the shootout that was eventually won 3-1 after a 1-1 draw in normal time.”
She’s at the bottom of this post match bundle:
She’s moving to one of the best resourced women’s teams in the country’
Tom Canning: Annets being snapped up by City is another kick in the gut for supporters of Reading FC Women – who despite avoiding relegation last season from the FA Women’s Championship, have been demoted to the Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division as the ongoing diabolical ownership of Dai Yongge continues.
The talent Reading had – and Yonnge has now squandered for the club – went far beyond historic figures like Fran Kirby and Mary Earps, deep into the academies and age group levels.
The move however is undoubtedly a huge one, and brilliant opportunity at one for the most resourced women’s football clubs in the country if not the world, and for Eve – a bit of a homecoming. She said to the City website: “My family are from Manchester. My parents [were] both born and raised here, so I’m keen to grow and learn in the city.”
