Manchester City took a daring step when they chose to overhaul their financial structure in order to make Bunny Shaw one of the highest‑paid women’s footballers on the planet. Adjusting an entire salary framework around a single player had previously seemed unthinkable, and many pundits doubted the club would have the nerve to do it. At first, the executives at City appeared to waver, even flirting with the idea of letting go of their prized striker. Yet the reversal that followed could prove to be a defining moment for this generation of the club.
In most footballing contexts, dedicating such a large slice of the wage budget to one individual would be deemed risky, perhaps even divisive. However, Shaw is not just any player; she is a once‑in‑a‑generation talent, 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 her relentless scoring formed the backbone of City’s league‑and‑cup double.
While football is a team sport and many others contributed to the triumph, no one matched Shaw’s impact. The highest individual accolade she can receive is the PFA Player of the Year award, which she claimed for the second time in three seasons, cementing the respect of teammates and opponents alike.
Manager Andree Jeglertz also deserves credit. He has unlocked new dimensions in Shaw’s game, a transformation the forward describes as "free football" – a term that captures the shift from the more rigid tactics of former boss Gareth Taylor to a fluid, attacking style under Jeglertz. When Shaw accepted her PFA trophy, she highlighted chemistry as the key factor, noting that the collective strength of the squad amplifies her own brilliance.
City’s depth has never been stronger, yet the market still lists them as second‑favourites behind Chelsea for this season – a curious calculation that underlines the competitive nature of the league. The quality of City’s squad, with Shaw at its core, makes them a legitimate contender even before the first whistle. Chelsea’s earlier attempts to sign Shaw illustrate how coveted she is; the Blues tried hard to secure her before City finally offered the most lucrative contract in the club’s history to the 29‑year‑old. Now that City have sealed the deal, it is hard to imagine the shine of such a formidable team fading quickly.
According to several players, it has taken time for the squad to internalise what it means to be champions. These are habits forged through experience, and under Jeglertz’s guidance the team has learned to translate that experience into consistent performance.
Shaw, who has remained largely injury‑free, is central to this newfound authority. Every aspect of her game improved last season: her movement became sharper, she discovered new blind‑side runs, exploited different defensive weaknesses, and refined her ability to both create for teammates and finish herself. She was the catalyst for a goal‑rich season that fell just three short of City’s all‑time record.
"I keep raising my personal standards because I’ve seen how it rubs off on everyone else," Shaw said after receiving the PFA award. "The girls say I’m hard on myself, but I want to be better and help the team reach the highest peaks." This mindset reflects her commitment to continuous improvement and her influence on the squad’s collective ambition. Shaw’s drive also mirrors a conversation she had on the eve of last season, when 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," she explained. That confidence translated into results: City topped the WSL for the first time on 9 November and never looked back, entering February with an 11‑point cushion over the nearest rival. It would be simplistic to assume that City will automatically repeat as champions solely because of recent history or Shaw’s prolific output.
Football is a team sport, and the contributions of many players are essential. Nevertheless, Shaw’s re‑signing – reportedly worth up to £1.6 million per year – signals an unprecedented level of investment from the club. It demonstrates a belief that a single season of success can be transformed into a sustained period of dominance, much like Chelsea’s era under Emma Hayes.
The club’s willingness to let star forward Kerolin depart for Barcelona in a record‑breaking sale this summer further illustrates a new strategic fortitude. City have already secured a proven winner in Beth Mead and retain a pool of younger talent ready to step up, giving Jeglertz a wealth of options.
This readiness to act marks a departure from the complacency that previously saw a ten‑year gap between City’s two WSL crowns. In summary, Manchester City’s bold financial gamble on Bunny Shaw has reshaped the club’s identity. By offering a contract that places her among the highest‑paid women’s footballers, the club has signalled its intent to build a lasting dynasty. Shaw’s extraordinary goal‑scoring record, her leadership on and off the pitch, and the supportive environment cultivated by Jeglertz and the rest of the squad combine to create a potent formula for continued success.
As the new season unfolds, all eyes will be on Shaw and City to see whether this ambitious vision can be realised and whether a new era of WSL dominance is on the horizon.