Manchester City took a daring step when they overhauled their salary structure to make Bunny Shaw one of the highest‑paid women’s footballers on the planet. Reconfiguring an entire wage system around a single player was once thought impossible, and many pundits doubted the club would have the courage to do it. Initially, the executives at City hesitated and even considered letting go of their prized striker, but a decisive reversal soon followed, a move that could shape the future of the club for years to come. In most footballing contexts, committing such a large slice of the payroll to one individual would be seen as risky, even divisive.
Yet Shaw is not an ordinary player; she is a unique talent, virtually irreplaceable on every level, and arguably the finest forward the Women’s Super League (WSL) has ever produced. Last season Shaw netted an astonishing 27 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City. Her 21 league goals earned her a historic third consecutive Golden Boot – a first in WSL history – and formed the backbone of City’s league‑and‑cup double. While football is a team sport and many teammates contributed, none matched Shaw’s impact.
Her personal accolades peaked when she was named PFA Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons, a testament to the respect she commands from peers on both sides of the pitch. Head coach Andree Jeglertz also earned plaudits for unlocking new dimensions in Shaw’s game.
The forward herself described the transformation as "free football," a phrase that captures the shift from the more rigid tactics of former manager Gareth Taylor to Jeglertz’s fluid, attacking philosophy. "Chemistry is the biggest thing," Shaw said while accepting her PFA award, highlighting that her success is intertwined with the collective quality around her. City’s squad depth has never been stronger, yet the market still lists them as second‑favourites behind Chelsea for the upcoming title race – a puzzling assessment given their recent form.
The WSL landscape is buzzing with news and transfer rumours, and fans can stream matches without a contract. With Shaw in the mix, City’s roster is undeniably a top‑contender even before the first whistle. Chelsea’s earlier attempt to sign Shaw before City secured her on a record‑breaking contract underscores how coveted she is. Now that City have retained her, it is hard to imagine the team’s brilliance fading quickly.
Players themselves admit that becoming a champion requires time to internalise winning habits, behaviours that are only forged through experience. Shaw’s injury‑free season allowed her to elevate every aspect of her play. Her movement became sharper, she discovered new blind‑side runs, and she learned to exploit a wider range of defensive weaknesses.
She not only created chances for herself but also opened up space for teammates, acting as a catalyst for a surge of goals that left City just three short of their all‑time scoring record. "I keep driving my personal standards because over the years I've noticed it rub off on everyone else," she explained after receiving the PFA trophy. "The girls say I'm hard on myself, but I want to be better and help the team achieve the highest of highs." The Jamaican international’s ambition is hard to satisfy.
In a conversation on the eve of last season, Shaw spoke about the potential she saw under Jeglertz: "If we can get it right on the pitch, we can be deadly. We can be unstoppable if we focus on the fine details the manager wants." That confidence translated into results; City topped the WSL on 9 November and never looked back, finishing the season 11 points clear of any challenger.
It would be simplistic to claim that City will automatically repeat as champions solely because of past dominance or Shaw’s prolific output. Football is a collective endeavour, and many other players contributed to the club’s supremacy. Nevertheless, the reported £1.6 million‑per‑year contract for Shaw is a watershed moment for both City and the league.
Such an investment signals a belief that a single successful season can be turned into a sustained era of power, much like Chelsea’s transformation under Emma Hayes. City’s willingness to let star forward Kerolin depart for Barcelona in a record sale this summer further illustrates a new strategic confidence. The club has already secured Beth Mead, a proven winner, and retains a wealth of young talent in the reserves.
Jeglertz now has a deep pool of options, allowing him to build a squad capable of challenging for titles on multiple fronts. After a decade of waiting between their two WSL crowns, City finally appears ready to step out of their comfort zone. This boldness may mark the beginning of a new dynasty in women’s football, with Shaw as the emblem of that ambition. The club’s commitment to invest heavily in its marquee player, combined with a forward‑thinking coach and a balanced roster, creates a potent recipe for continued success.
Fans can catch Manchester City’s season opener against Birmingham live on Sky Sports at 2.30 pm on Sunday, and there’s even a chance to win £1 million in the Super 6 competition – free entry for those who want to test their luck while supporting the team’s quest for another historic campaign.