Skip to content

England’s Lucy Bronze is 'excited to start' at Lyon

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Lucy Bronze tells Sky Sports News she's looking forward to a 'new challenge' at Lyon

England defender Lucy Bronze says it was tough to leave Manchester City, but couldn't turn down the opportunity to move to Champions League holders Lyon.

Bronze, who joined City in 2014, helped them win the treble including the Women's Super League title, Continental Tyres Cup and Women's FA Cup at Wembley in May.

Sky sources reported on Monday that the two-time PFA Player of the Year was on the verge of joining the French club, who eliminated City in the semi-finals of last year's competition.

HANDOUT PHOTO STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 0001 MONDAY APRIL 24, 2017 OR IS ANNOUNCED ON THE PFA's SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS of Manchester City's Lucy Bronze who
Image: The 48-cap international winning PFA Player of the Year

"Yeah it was a hard decision, obviously I've had a great time at City," Bronze said. "But Lyon, they've won the Champions League back to back, they've got world class players in every position and it was a team I probably couldn't turn down.

"Playing against them this year was an eye opener to see what else there was in Europe," she added.

"They're a fantastic team and playing against them was unbelievable to see the quality they have, and the fact they wanted me to join the team was a huge honour."

Bronze turned down a deal which would have made her City's highest earner to sign a three-year contract with Lyon.

Also See:

Manchester City duo Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze have been named on the shortlist for the FIFPro World XI team of the year
Image: Lucy Bronze helped Manchester City win the Women's Super League title

The 25-year-old was a standout performer for England at the Euros and her impressive performances over the last 12 months have seen her shortlisted for the 2017 Best FIFA Women's Player Award.

Speaking about her time recently in Lyon Bronze said: "I met a few of them the other day and they all said hello, thankfully they all speak English as I don't speak French.

"It should be interesting, I don't know any of them that well but I've played a few of them on the odd occasion."

Her exit follows the departure of Toni Duggan who is also moving to Europe giants Barcelona, and Carli Lloyd, after her short-term stint with Nick Cushing's team.

Around Sky