Manchester City have strengthened their goalkeeping options with the signing of England international Anna Moorhouse on a short-term loan from American side Orlando Pride. The 31-year-old will link up with the Women's Super League champions until January, with the move still subject to international clearance.
Moorhouse arrives in Manchester having built a strong reputation in the National Women's Soccer League, where she has been a key figure for Orlando Pride since joining the club from French outfit Bordeaux in January 2022. Her performances in the United States played a significant role in Orlando's success last year, as she helped guide the team to both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2024.
That standout campaign did not go unnoticed back home, with Moorhouse earning a recall to the England squad in 2024. The goalkeeper, who was born in Oldham, has represented her country twice at senior level and was included in the Lionesses squad that triumphed at Euro 2025, giving her firsthand experience of major tournament success even without significant match time.
Her arrival at City marks a return to the WSL, a league she is already familiar with having previously worn the shirts of both Arsenal and West Ham United earlier in her career. Those spells in London helped establish her as one of the more experienced English goalkeepers to have plied her trade across multiple top-flight clubs, before she made the switch to the NWSL in search of regular first-team football.
For Manchester City, the deal represents a shrewd piece of business as they look to add depth and quality to their goalkeeping department during a demanding period of the season. As reigning WSL champions, City will be keen to defend their title while also competing on multiple fronts domestically and potentially in Europe, making squad depth in every position a priority.
Moorhouse's experience of winning silverware in a competitive league, combined with her England pedigree, should provide City's coaching staff with a reliable option between the posts during her time at the club. The short-term nature of the loan, running only until January, suggests City view this as a way to bolster their options through a congested fixture period before reassessing their goalkeeping situation in the new year.
The move also offers Moorhouse a fresh challenge back in English football after several years away, giving her the chance to compete for a starting role and further boost her international prospects following her involvement in the victorious Euro 2025 squad. Should she perform well during her loan spell, it could open the door to a more permanent return to the WSL or strengthen her case for further England recognition.
Manchester City have not disclosed further details of the structure of the loan agreement, including any option for a permanent transfer once the short-term deal concludes. For now, the focus will be on integrating Moorhouse into the squad as quickly as possible ahead of the club's upcoming fixtures, as they seek to maintain their standing at the top of the Women's Super League.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.