Manchester City made a daring financial decision when they chose to overhaul their wage structure to secure Bunny Shaw as one of the highest‑paid women footballers on the planet. Reshaping an entire salary framework 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 seemed ready to abandon their star striker.
Yet the reversal that followed could prove to be a defining moment for this generation of the club. In most football environments, dedicating such a large slice of the payroll to one individual would be deemed risky, even controversial. Shaw, however, is not an ordinary talent.
She is virtually irreplaceable, a player who has consistently demonstrated that she is 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 league haul of 21 goals made her the first player in WSL history to claim the Golden Boot for three consecutive seasons, and her scoring prowess formed the backbone of City’s league‑and‑cup double. While football is inherently a team sport and many teammates contributed significantly, no one matched Shaw’s impact.
Her individual 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. Manager Andree Jeglertz also earned plaudits for unlocking new levels of performance in Shaw. The forward herself described the transformation as "free football," contrasting Jeglertz’s fluid, attacking philosophy with the more rigid tactics of former boss Gareth Taylor. "Chemistry is the biggest thing," Shaw said while accepting her PFA award, highlighting how the collective environment amplifies her brilliance.
City’s squad depth has never been stronger, yet the market still lists them as second‑favorites behind Chelsea for the upcoming title race – a curious paradox given their recent dominance. The WSL landscape is buzzing with news and transfer rumors, and streaming options now allow fans to watch matches without a contract. With Shaw firmly in place, City is widely regarded as the pre‑match favorite. Chelsea even attempted to lure her away before City finally offered a record‑breaking contract to the 29‑year‑old, making it the most lucrative deal in the club’s history.
Now that the contract is signed, it is hard to imagine the squad’s sparkle fading quickly. Players admit it took time to develop the habits of champions, a process only achievable through experience.
Still, underestimating their current strength would be a mistake. Shaw has remained injury‑free, allowing her to elevate her game further. Her movement is sharper, she discovers new blind‑side runs, exploits different defensive weaknesses, and creates opportunities both for herself and her teammates.
She finished just three goals shy of City’s all‑time seasonal record, and her relentless drive has inspired those around her to raise their own standards. "I keep pushing my personal standards because over the years I’ve noticed it rubs off on everyone else," Shaw explained after receiving the PFA trophy.
"The girls say I’m hard on myself, but I want to be better and help the team reach the highest peaks." This relentless self‑improvement mindset mirrors the ambition of the club’s hierarchy. Shaw, a Jamaican international, is notoriously hard to satisfy. In a conversation before last season, she spoke about the potential she saw under Jeglertz: "If we 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 for the first time on November 9 and never looked back, entering February with an 11‑point lead over the nearest challenger.
It would be simplistic to assume City will automatically repeat as champions solely because of recent form or Shaw’s prolific output. Football is a collective effort, and many contributors have been essential to the club’s dominance.
Nevertheless, Shaw’s new contract—reported to be worth up to £1.6 million per year—signals an unprecedented level of investment. The club is betting that a single season of success can be converted into a sustained era of power, much like Chelsea’s transformation under Emma Hayes. The summer also saw City sell Kerolin to Barcelona for a record fee, demonstrating a willingness to cash in on assets while still strengthening the squad. They have already secured Beth Mead, a proven trophy winner, and retain a wealth of young talent in reserve.
Jeglertz now has a menu of options, underscoring the club’s depth and strategic flexibility. By finally stepping out of the comfort zone that previously limited them to a ten‑year gap between their two WSL titles, City appears ready for a new chapter.
The combination of bold financial moves, a visionary manager, and an elite striker in Shaw could lay the foundations for a fresh dynasty in women’s football. Fans can catch the season opener against Birmingham live on Sky Sports at 2.30 pm on Sunday, and there are promotional opportunities such as the Super 6 competition, offering a chance to win £1 million. As the campaign unfolds, all eyes will be on Bunny Shaw and Manchester City to see whether their audacious gamble pays off and reshapes the future of the Women’s Super League.