The window has not officially started, and Manchester United are bolstering their squad. After fighting to the Champions League play-offs, it has become clear to their manager, Marc Skinner, and everyone else that they need to bring in reinforcements into the squad to fight on all four fronts. Depth is crucial on some occasions; they have had a significantly depleted bench, unable to rest their key core players.
They have seen January as an opportunity to bring in stars.
Lea Schuller has left Bayern Munich after saying farewell to the fans in their last home match before the winter break, during which she looked visibly emotional, further fueling rumours that she was leaving. She has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract and says it's the united ambition that attracted her to the club after there was no development in her contract with the German side.
She will officially move to the England club on the first of January for an undisclosed fee after completing a medical earlier in December.
Schuller has scored 54 goals in 82 games for her country. She was runner-up to England at Euro 2022 and won bronze at the Paris Olympics.
The German international said: “From the first conversations that I had with Marc [Skinner, head coach] and the club, the ambitions of everyone here were obvious. I still have so much that I want to achieve in my career, and I know that Manchester United is the perfect club to join.
“I feel that the team’s style of football will really suit my game. I hope my qualities and experience can help us to achieve our aims both in England and in the Champions League.”
The 28-year-old has scored more than 100 goals for Bayern across a five-and-a-half-year spell and has won the Bundesliga title four times and the DFB Cup.
She issued a passionate statement of gratitude on their website, saying: “Munich has truly become my home. The team and the club have always been like a second family to me. I’ve developed such close friendships here that will last forever. That’s why it’s challenging to take this step and leave my home, my friends and my family.
“My years at Bayern have had a huge impact on me and will always remain very special to me. I’m going to miss you all so much and will cherish the memories – and that will never change.”
Those sentiments were echoed in the German club’s statement through their director of women’s football, Bianca Rech, who said: “We thank her from the bottom of our hearts for everything she has done for FC Bayern and wish her all the best for the future.”
Securing these transfers comes at a time when United appear to be gathering some momentum in the knockout stage and the League Cup semi-final.
United have also signed free agent Swedish right-back Hanna Lundkvist on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Subject to international clearance and registration, she, too, will be at United until June 2029. She has previously played for San Diego Waves, Atlético Madrid, Hammarby, and AIK.
At just 23 years old, she has been capped 17 times for Sweden and started every game at the 2025 Euros.
Hanna Lundkvist said, “I am really excited to be here; Manchester United is a club with a fantastic history. You can feel how much they have grown in the last few years, competing in one of the strongest leagues in the world and performing in the Champions League.
“Speaking with Marc and the coaches confirmed all of the great things I have heard about the culture of the team here. I cannot wait to get started and help the group achieve more success.”
They also confirmed that the Japanese midfielder Hinata Miyazawa has signed a new contract.
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