It’s been an interesting couple of months for Celin Bizet Donnum.
Back in June, the Manchester United winger tied the knot, marrying footballer husband Aron at a ceremony in Italy.
After representing Norway at the European Championship in Switzerland, she took a deserved break before returning to help the Reds qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
And, at the beginning of last month, a 2025 to cherish became even more memorable, as Celin and Aron announced that they were expecting their first child.
That brilliant news has ruled the 24-year-old out of United Women’s fixtures for the foreseeable future, but she is still a regular face at our Carrington training ground and, as she revealed in an exclusive chat with Zarah Connolly, she’s enjoying doing the social side of keeping up her fitness.
“It’s nice to feel fresher when I come into the gym, do things you normally do, go on the pitch, be a part of the group, not just disappear!”
she said.
“I go home every day with a good feeling, telling myself, ‘I trained today’. I’m happy, with the girls, it’s lovely vibes. Just watching games and everything, being a part still!
“I’m not doing any contact. We stopped that straight away [when] I knew I was pregnant. And the rest is like, I’m in the passing drills and the warm-ups, I can do all this stuff. Like I said, I’m not as quick now! [laughs]
“I’m getting loads of help, like all of them are so supportive and really want me to develop, even though I’m pregnant.
“Me and the physical coaches have been through a lot, and yeah, we have a really good schedule, to be fair.”
Bizet Donnum is the second Red to enter the journey to motherhood, with team-mate Hannah Blundell having given birth to Romi in March 2025.
Blundell, who joined Everton on loan in early January, has provided a blueprint to follow, returning to action at the beginning of this season.
“It’s such a motivation seeing Han, what she’s been through, and seeing her smashing the fitness tests on the pitch now after having her baby,”
Celin added.
“It gives me a lot of motivation, it gave all the people motivation – [for Hannah] to still train and be a part of the team, even though you’re pregnant.
“It shouldn’t be like, if you’re pregnant, that you shouldn’t be a part of the team. You see it is important, you will be back at some point. Yeah, it’s been great support from everyone, and Hannah’s been an inspiration.”
As she continues on her exciting adventure, Bizet Donnum is already looking ahead to the future and playing again.
“There aren’t many of my age that are pregnant. Obviously, football is hard… I’m married, I have a great life outside of football, but I think having kids at a young age is healthy; you shouldn’t not do it because of football.
“And then coming back stronger, it’s exciting.
“Obviously, it’s not a normal job, but I can still be healthy, as I said, like train, I get breakfast and lunch every day. I’m a couple of months [along] now, but still I’m working hard.
“I’m just very grateful, being around this team, being pregnant, they have been so respectful to me and the pregnancy. I feel very grateful.”