Khadija “Bunny” Shaw will not be renewing her contract with Manchester City, with the Jamaican forward opting to seek fresh opportunities elsewhere when her current deal expires this summer. According to available information, prolonged negotiations over an extension ultimately broke down, leaving the WSL champions bracing for the departure of their most influential player. Both the club and the player are understood to be genuinely disappointed by the outcome.
Contract Talks Collapse Despite Early Optimism
Earlier this year, in March, Shaw had appeared on the verge of committing her future to the club, with sources indicating she had expressed a desire to remain at City. However, discussions over the specifics of a new arrangement — most notably the proposed duration of the contract — ran into repeated obstacles that neither party could resolve. City are now understood to be making contingency plans for a squad without their talismanic forward.
The 29-year-old has been in extraordinary form throughout the current campaign, netting 19 goals across 21 WSL appearances and steering Manchester City to their first league championship in a decade. Her contribution to the title win has only deepened the affection supporters hold for her, and our editorial team understands that both the club and Shaw herself are genuinely disappointed by the outcome of the negotiations.
Financial considerations appear to have played a decisive role. Our correspondent understands that City were ultimately unable to compete with the salary packages being put forward by other clubs. Chelsea have emerged as the frontrunners, with reports suggesting they are prepared to offer Shaw a salary in the region of £1 million per year. The 29-year-old has also attracted serious attention from Barcelona and a number of franchises in the NWSL, while London City Lionesses — backed by considerable financial resources — have also registered their interest.
Before any transfer is formalised, Shaw still has important fixtures to fulfil in a City shirt. This Sunday she is expected to line up against Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge, a fixture that carries an added layer of intrigue given the transfer speculation. The following weekend, City conclude their WSL campaign with an away match at West Ham, having already secured the title on Wednesday evening after Arsenal were unable to beat Brighton.
Throughout the process, the former Bordeaux forward has been keen to ensure that transfer talk does not overshadow Manchester City‘s pursuit of silverware, and those close to the situation have made every effort to keep discussions out of the public eye.
Shaw‘s standing in the women’s game extends well beyond her goal tally. She is broadly regarded as the most dangerous central striker currently playing, and her accolades reflect that status: she was named the Professional Footballers’ Association’s women’s players’ player of the year and claimed the WSL player of the season award for the 2023–24 campaign. With a third consecutive Golden Boot now within reach, her next destination will be one of the most closely watched transfers in women’s football this summer.
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