Hanna Lundkvist made her Manchester United debut in Saturday’s Barclays Women's Super League draw with Arsenal, just over a week after her mid-season move to the club became official.
The energetic defender was introduced as a 71st-minute substitute at the Emirates Stadium and was tasked with vacating the space filled by right-back Jayde Riviere, who was sent off six minutes earlier.
Lundkvist stood up to the challenge well and, in pressurised circumstances, even produced an impressive piece of skill shortly after coming on as United’s second debutant of the day, following the earlier introduction of fellow January recruit Lea Schuller.
“Hanna showed a lot of quality in those positions, she’s a slightly different build to Jayde but she has this incredible football talent as well,”
said head coach Marc Skinner at full-time. “I think our fans will love them [Hanna and Lea].”
So, what is Hanna’s story so far? Well, the 23-year-old – capable of playing on both sides of the defence – arrived as United Women’s first signing of the winter window and as a player already equipped with experience of playing in the top leagues of Spain, Sweden and the United States.
Lundkvist was born on the Swedish island of Djuro, a short drive from the city centre of capital Stockholm, and began her footballing journey with local club Djuro-Vindo IF, before moving into the senior game upon joining Stockholm-based side AIK in 2018.
Her first-team debut came in April of that year and was made in the Swedish second tier – Elitettan – a division that she would gain further experience in upon joining AIK’s crosstown rivals Hammarby in 2019.
Our new no.5 was a regular in the line-up as Hammarby gained promotion to the top flight in 2020 and as they secured a mid-table finish in 2021, upon their return to tier one.
Her hard-working style and talent on the pitch was spotted in the Spanish capital, and Atletico de Madrid were soon to come calling, acquiring Hanna’s signature to join them in December 2021.
It was during her two-and-a-bit years in Madrid that Lundkvist earned her first cap for Sweden’s senior side – who she had previously represented at U17, U19 and U23 levels – against China in 2023.
An ankle injury meant she had to withdraw from her nation’s FIFA World Cup squad later that year, but her form at new club San Diego Wave – from February 2024 – meant she made her major-tournament debut at UEFA Euro 2025, playing every game in Sweden’s run to the quarter-finals.
Before then, back in the States, the defender had won the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup on her San Diego debut against Gotham FC, and she would go on to play more than 50 times for the Wave across two seasons, the most recent finishing in November.
After some time off, Hanna made her move to Manchester during the mid-season break here with a contract until June 2029 confirmed at the end of December, before officially starting on 1 January.
“I am really excited to be here; Manchester United is a club with an amazing history,”
our new defender said at the time. “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 to achieve more success.”
Hanna has, of course, got started now and – like fellow January addition Schuller – could make her home debut for the club in this Sunday’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Burnley in Leigh. Tickets for the clash are available here!