Manchester City displayed remarkable audacity when they chose to overhaul their financial framework in order to secure Bunny Shaw as one of the highest‑paid women’s footballers on the planet. Re‑structuring an entire wage hierarchy around a single player had previously seemed unimaginable, and many pundits doubted the club would take such a daring step.
Initially, the executives at City hesitated and even contemplated walking away from their prized striker. The subsequent reversal, however, may prove to be a defining moment for this generation of the club.
In most footballing contexts, allocating a disproportionately large share of the payroll to one individual would be deemed risky, even divisive. Yet Shaw is not an ordinary athlete.
She is virtually irreplaceable on every level of the game and arguably the finest talent the Women’s Super League (WSL) has ever produced. Last season Shaw netted 27 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City.
Her 21 league goals earned her a historic third consecutive WSL Golden Boot, cementing her status as the competition’s most prolific scorer and providing the backbone for City’s league‑and‑cup double. While the triumph was a collective effort, Shaw’s impact was unmistakable. Individual recognition in the women’s game peaks with the PFA Player of the Year award, which she claimed 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 received considerable credit for unlocking new dimensions in Shaw’s game. The forward describes Jeglertz’s philosophy as "free football," a stark contrast to the more rigid tactics of former manager Gareth Taylor.
This freedom allowed Shaw to express her creativity and adapt her movement to exploit defensive weaknesses. "Chemistry is the biggest thing," Shaw said while accepting her PFA trophy.
She emphasised that her success is intertwined with the quality of those 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 defence – a puzzling calculation for many observers.
The WSL landscape is evolving rapidly, and streaming options now let fans watch matches without a contract, widening the sport’s reach. With Shaw in the mix, City’s squad possesses a genuine claim to be the pre‑match favourite. Chelsea’s earlier pursuit of Shaw underscores how coveted her services are; the Blues attempted to sign her before City finally matched their ambition with the most lucrative contract in club history. Now that the deal is sealed, it is hard to imagine the shine of this formidable team fading quickly.
Players themselves admit that it has taken time to internalise the habits of champions – behaviours forged through experience and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Shaw’s injury‑free season allowed her to elevate her performance further, embodying the new confidence that radiates through the squad.
Her movement became sharper, her runs more incisive. She discovered blind‑side angles, targeted previously untapped weaknesses, and refined her ability to both create chances for teammates and finish them herself. Shaw’s goal tally was just three short of City’s all‑time record, and her relentless drive inspired those around her to raise their own standards. "I keep driving my personal standards because over the years I've noticed it rub off on everyone else," Shaw explained after receiving the PFA award.
"The girls say I'm hard on myself, but I want to be better and help the team achieve the highest of highs." This mindset has become a cultural touchstone for the club. Recalling a conversation from the eve of last season, Shaw spoke about the potential she saw under Jeglertz’s guidance: "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, holding an 11‑point lead by February. It would be overly simplistic to attribute a future title solely to Shaw’s brilliance or to past league performance.
Football remains a team sport, and City’s dominance is built on contributions from many individuals. Nevertheless, the reported £1.6 million‑per‑year contract for Shaw signals an unprecedented commitment from the club, mirroring the long‑term investment Chelsea made under Emma Hayes. The club’s willingness to let Kerolin depart for Barcelona in a record sale, while simultaneously securing Beth Mead – a proven trophy winner – and nurturing a pool of younger talent, demonstrates a strategic depth that gives Jeglertz a wealth of options.
After a decade of waiting between their two WSL crowns, City appear ready to step out of the comfort zone that once limited them. The combination of bold financial decisions, a visionary coaching staff, and a player of Shaw’s calibre suggests the emergence of a new 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 is even a chance to win £1 million in the Super 6 competition – a free entry that adds extra excitement to an already thrilling campaign.