One of women’s football’s most prolific strikers is preparing for a high-profile summer move, after Manchester City Women confirmed that Khadija “Bunny” Shaw will leave the club when her current contract expires in June. Contract extension negotiations between the all-time leading goalscorer and the reigning Women’s Super League champions collapsed after the two sides failed to reach a consensus on key terms, opening the door for a major transfer move.
Shaw, who has captured the hearts of City fans throughout her tenure at the club, had publicly shared her desire to remain in Manchester following the team’s historic 2024 WSL title win — their first top-flight league crown in 10 years. But according to reporting from *The Guardian*, irreconcilable differences over critical contract details, most notably the length of the proposed new deal, ultimately derailed extension talks. Both the club and the Jamaican striker have expressed deep disappointment at the breakdown of negotiations, with City acknowledging they cannot compete with the lucrative financial terms being tabled by suitors elsewhere.
The leading contender to sign Shaw is London-based Chelsea FC Women, who have tabled an offer worth £1 million per year to secure the striker’s signature, multiple sources close to the negotiations have confirmed. The forward is not short of options, however: elite clubs across global football have registered interest in her availability, including Spanish giant Barcelona and several top-flight clubs in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League.
The 28-year-old Jamaican international, nicknamed “Bunny,” is currently leading the 2023-24 WSL in goalscoring and is on track to win the league’s Golden Boot award for the third consecutive season. Before she leaves the club, Shaw will face her prospective new side Chelsea this Sunday in the FA Cup semi-final, with her final appearance for Manchester City currently scheduled for the following Saturday’s league clash against West Ham United.