Aberdeen Women have signed goalkeeper Faye Kirby on loan from Liverpool, with manager Clint Lancaster describing the deal as a “statement of intent”.
The 19-year-old played three times in the FA WSL – including a player of the match display against Chelsea – and twice in the League Cup last season, and is an England under-23 international.
She is Lancaster’s third summer signing, with striker Hannah Insch and midfielder Laura Holden also signing for the Dons this week.
Kirby, who has also previously played for Everton, has joined on a season-long loan.
Lancaster is delighted to bring Kirby to the club, having prioritised the recruitment of a goalkeeper upon his arrival at Aberdeen.
He said: “When I came up here, my number one priority was to bring in a goalkeeper. I felt Annalisa (McCann) is good, but she is still young and needs the support of a team-mate.
“I was contacting a few managers I know down in England to see if they had a more senior goalkeeper they’d be happy to get out on loan.
“I know Matt Beard (Liverpool manager) well and he was the first person I spoke to. He recommended Faye and I had a conversation with her.
“She is excited about working with us and what we want to do here at Aberdeen.”
The network of contacts which led to Kirby’s signing, Lancaster believes, is the reason why he was brought in on a full-time basis with the Dons.
He added: “My network of contacts, who I can rely on and speak to, is going to help us. It’s brilliant we can get somebody like Faye up to join us here.
“I believe she is the first England international to play for Aberdeen Women, and that is a massive statement of intent from the club.”
Lancaster hopes to bring U18 talent into senior Aberdeen squad
Before bringing in more external recruits, Lancaster plans to assess the U18s squad –Â who play under the Aberdeen Ladies banner.
In order for Lancaster to assess those players, the youth team have been training alongside his senior squad.
He said: “There are a couple of the younger girls in the academy that I have seen and would like to give the opportunity to before I look anywhere else.
“We’ve got a very good under-18s team here and I don’t want to dismiss them and bring in other players at the peril of our own young players. They have been training with us and it’s been good for me to see them.
“It’s good for the first-team, too, because we can play in-house friendly games and progress together.”
Lancaster has also made two new additions to his staff with Derek Anderson, who is also a coach with the under-18s, and goalkeeper coach Cameron Jarvie joining the new boss in the dugout.
Long-serving coach Claire Garrett and physio Beth Walker will make up Lancaster’s coaching staff.
He said: “Derek is a good coach and it’s important for us to have a connection with the academy, not only with the players, but the coaches, too, for the progression throughout the club.
“If you’ve got the right staff members on your doorstep then why not use them.
“Cameron has come in as head of goalkeeping and has been excellent. He’s built up a good relationship with Annalisa and the work they’re doing is great.”