England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck joins Barcelona from Manchester City | OneFootball

Barcelona have completed the signing of England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck on a free transfer following the end of her contract at Manchester City.

The deal sees the Women’s Champions League holders add a third England international to their current squad alongside right-back Lucy Bronze and midfielder Keira Walsh, and presents a dream move for the 24-year-old from Sheffield, who agreed the deal on pre-contract terms earlier in 2024.

Roebuck, who has signed a two-year contract, joins Spain’s World Cup-winning shot-stopper Cata Coll in Barcelona’s goalkeeping ranks and it is understood both keepers will be given starts in plenty of matches across all competitions next season. Roebuck replaces Sandra Paños, who is leaving the Catalan club this summer after nine years.

“I’d been waiting for this chance for a long time,” Roebuck said. “I’m very happy to be here. You could say that now everything fits and this was the perfect time to come. I want to test myself and live a new experience. There’s nowhere better to do that than here, so I’m really grateful to get this opportunity.”

Roebuck also believes she will suit Barcelona’s style of playing, adding: “I like to play with the ball at my feet and this is the perfect team to do that with. I enjoy possession and playing out from the back, so I hope to contribute my style.”

For Roebuck, who has been capped 11 times at senior international level and kept six clean sheets but has found herself out of the England squad this season, the move could present her with an opportunity to revive her hopes of playing for her country. Prior to Sarina Wiegman’s arrival as England manager in 2021, Roebuck had looked set to be the Lionesses’ first-choice keeper before Mary Earps cemented that spot in the run-up to the 2022 Euros.

With Manchester City youngster Khiara Keating emerging as head coach Gareth Taylor’s No 1 at the start of last term, Roebuck appeared to drop down the pecking order at her club and then in March she revealed that, earlier in the campaign, she had suffered a stroke, adding: “Thankfully there is no lasting damage to my brain function or vision.”

She is understood to have made a full recovery. Upon announcing her exit from Manchester City in May, she spoke of her sadness at leaving a club where she was part of the Women’s Super League title-winning side in 2016: “I’ve met so many great people along the way and it’s going to be really different and strange come next season. I feel like I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve her and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”

At Manchester City, Roebuck won three FA Cups and three League Cups, as well as being part of England’s squads for the 2022 Euros and the 2023 World Cup. She won the WSL’s Golden Glove in 2019-20.

Meanwhile the former Barcelona and Manchester City forward Toni Duggan will leave Everton at the end of June when her contract expires, the Women’s Super League side announced on Wednesday.

Duggan, 32, who was in her second spell with the Merseysiders, scored three goals in 14 appearances in all competitions last term. Everton’s women’s team chief executive Alan McTavish said: “Everyone at Everton thanks Toni for her service and commitment to the club. She can be very proud of her contribution to Everton. We wish Toni all the best for the future.”

Header image: [Photograph: @BarcaFem/X]