Liverpool FC Ladies are delighted to substantiate the signing of Gemma Bonner.
The 31-year-old defender returns to the membership for a second time after a spell within the USA with Racing Louisville FC, topic to worldwide clearance and formal approvals.
Bonner captained the Reds, then referred to as Liverpool FC Women, to 2 Ladies’s Tremendous League titles in 2013 and 2014 throughout a massively profitable six-year keep earlier than her departure in 2018.
She subsequently lifted two Ladies’s FA Cups and two Continental League Cups at Manchester Metropolis, then took on the problem of becoming a member of enlargement membership Louisville within the Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League in 2021.
A Ladies’s Cup success was achieved in her first season and Bonner was appointed captain in her second, however now returns to the Reds to be reunited with former supervisor Matt Beard.
The centre-back’s tally of 115 appearances for LFC Ladies stays the second-highest of the skilled period, behind solely Ashley Hodson.
“It was too good a possibility to go as much as deliver Gemma again to the soccer membership,” stated LFC Ladies boss Beard. “We had an awesome working relationship earlier than and she is going to deliver management and expertise to the crew.
“She’s gained all the things in England with Liverpool and Man Metropolis and has now skilled America to broaden her horizons and open her eyes to totally different soccer cultures. It simply looks like she’s coming residence.”
Bonner’s CV additionally contains taking part in with England in any respect ranges from U17 to U23 and she or he has 11 full caps for the Lionesses.
“It’s a reasonably particular second for me. I nonetheless pinch myself after I’m coming into Anfield,” she stated. “I’m super-excited to be again and I can’t wait to tug the shirt on once more and get on the market with the women – and get again taking part in for Liverpool.
“I used to be right here for fairly some time earlier than, it was a tough resolution to go away however I feel I all the time knew inside myself that in the future I might love to come back again to Liverpool. Now the time feels proper.
“The crew have began the season rather well, clearly had a profitable season final yr getting again into the highest league. They’ve acquired good foundations and are undoubtedly constructing. Hopefully I can are available in and contribute to the continued development.”
Bonner considers profitable these consecutive league titles with the Reds as among the many most interesting moments in a stellar profession.
“One of many proudest issues I’ve performed is lifting these trophies, particularly back-to-back,” she stated. “I’ve some unimaginable reminiscences from my time right here beforehand.
“Rising up as a Liverpool fan it in all probability signifies that little bit extra. Seeing my shirt right this moment with the title on the again once more was virtually just a little emotional.
“The vibe feels good, it feels proper to come back again, and most significantly hopefully I can present on the pitch and convey one thing to the crew.”
Now, Bonner is trying ahead to linking up with supervisor Beard once more, in addition to the LFC Ladies supporters who’ve all the time backed her.
“I do know the connection between the gamers and the followers is a large a part of this membership, it’s particular and for me it’s fairly distinctive,” stated the No.23.
“I’ve labored with Matt so many instances earlier than, he’s so skilled within the ladies’s recreation and hopefully we are able to work effectively collectively. He is aware of me as a participant and I do know him and the way we work collectively.
“He is aware of he desires to achieve success at Liverpool and that’s the expectation at this membership. I do know I need to push and maintain driving the crew to maintain on enhancing and get again to the place we have been.”
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