When Millie Turner and Lisa Naalsund stepped off the plane together last month, they weren't just starting a new chapter as teammates — they were starting it as an engaged couple, ready to write the next one together. Now, the two Manchester United players have officially joined Birmingham City, moving as a duo to a club on the rise.
Birmingham City spent five years away from the top tier of English women's football. Last season, they clinched the WSL 2 title and earned their ticket back to the Women's Super League — the highest level of the sport in England. Now, they've strengthened their squad with two players who know exactly what it takes to win at the highest level.
Turner, who is 30 and has two caps for the England national team, spent eight years at Manchester United. She made 189 appearances for the club — second only to Ella Toone in the club's history. She was part of the squad that won United's first major trophy, the FA Cup, in 2024. Naalsund, who is 31 and has earned 39 caps for Norway, joined United in January 2023 and made 74 appearances, scoring eight goals. Before Manchester, she won back-to-back league titles with Norwegian club Braan.
Both players signed three-year contracts with Birmingham. The fees are understood to be in the six-figure range.
Turner said joining Birmingham felt right from the start. "This is where I want to be," she told reporters. "It's an exciting project and I think there's no ceiling to what we can achieve here." Birmingham manager Amy Merricks called Turner "a brilliant character and a real leader" who will raise standards across the whole squad.
Naalsund, who had a year left on her United contract, said the decision came down to a feeling. "When I had chats with the club, they just gave me instantly a very good feeling about it," she said. "I feel like the future can be quite bright."
Birmingham's return to the top flight marks a new beginning — not just for the club, but for two players who found something worth believing in together.