A FLURRY of announcements on Thursday saw two Scotland players switch clubs and provided confirmation that a third would be staying put. It was also, one would presume, a trying afternoon for Glasgow City.
Scotland’s 10-time champions were always going to lose Erin Cuthbert to a professional club at some point. The 18-year-old is the most exciting midfield talent this country has produced since Kim Little, an opinion shared by 2015 FA WSL champions Chelsea, who she has joined.
Much less predictable was Sarah Crilly’s move from City to Celtic. To lose two of their most creative players in quick succession is a massive blow for Scotland’s previously dominant club, coming as it does after a season when Hibernian won both domestic cup competitions.
It also signals that Celtic, who finished a distant third in the league, intend to be more of a threat. What better way to demonstrate that than by plucking a player from one of their rivals?
The news that Rachel Corsie, another former City player, is to stay at Seattle Reign was expected. She is now the only Scot at the club, with Little having rejoined Arsenal.
Cuthbert’s move to Chelsea is tremendous news for the player and her family, who are her biggest supporters. Being paid to do what you love is a dream which is becoming a reality for more and more women players.
Cuthbert made her full Scotland debut in the away Euro qualifier against Belarus in June, fitting into the side seamlessly when she replaced Corsie at the start of the second half.
The Scotland Under-19 captain can play as a holding midfielder or No 10, and even without the move to Chelsea looked certain to be in Anna Signeul’s squad for the Euros next summer.
Yet amidst all this optimism, a cautionary note has to be sounded. The switch to one of the biggest clubs in Europe at this stage of her career only makes sense if Cuthbert is going to get regular first-team football.
If she is, there is no downside. She will be playing games at a higher intensity, against better players, than would have been the case had she stayed at City. Both can only accelerate her development and will be a huge bonus for Scotland.
However, no player ever improved by sitting on the bench as Scotland’s other outstanding young talent of recent years, Ryan Gauld, has discovered.
Here’s hoping Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has big plans for her new signing.
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