Birmingham sign Millie Turner and Lisa Naalsund from Manchester United

Birmingham City have completed the signings of defender Millie Turner and midfielder Lisa Naalsund from Manchester United, bolstering their squad ahead of their return to the Women's Super League (WSL). The pair, who announced their engagement last month, are believed to have joined for six-figure fees.

Experienced duo join Birmingham's WSL return

Birmingham won the WSL 2 title last season, ending a five-year absence from the top flight. Turner, 30, has two England caps and made 189 appearances during eight years at Manchester United. She was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2024, the club's first major trophy. Naalsund, 31, has made 39 appearances for Norway and scored eight goals in 74 appearances for United since joining in January 2023. She previously won back-to-back league titles with Norwegian side Brann.

Contracts and transfer details

It is understood both players have signed three-year contracts. Naalsund had a year remaining on her contract after United triggered an extension clause in January until 2027, meaning Birmingham had to pay a fee. United have had a quiet transfer window, but sources suggest money from sales will be reinvested into the squad before the start of next season.

Quotes from players and manager

Turner, who came through the ranks at United and helped them earn promotion to the WSL in 2019, said: "This is where I want to be. It's an exciting project and I think there's no ceiling to what we can achieve here." Only Ella Toone has made more appearances for Manchester United than Turner.

Birmingham manager Amy Merricks praised Turner's leadership: "She's someone who brings a lot of experience and quality at the highest level, but just as importantly, she's a brilliant character and a real leader. We know the standards she will set every day that will have a really positive impact on this group."

Naalsund said: "When I had chats with the club, they just gave me instantly a very good feeling about it. When you're debating which club to go to, it's always that feeling in your stomach, and that just decides where you go. This was the place that excited me the most and the people were really nice. It's a really good project here and I feel like the future can be quite bright."