Emma Watson secures Palace loan move

Watson joins the Eagles on the back of a milestone 2024/25 campaign, in which she made her United debut away to Everton, an appearance that marked her return from an ACL injury suffered on international duty shortly after joining us in 2023.

The Scotland international went on to score her first goal for the Reds against Newcastle before continuing her progress at the top level by going out on loan to Everton for the second half of the campaign.

Having returned from that spell on Merseyside – which featured winning the Toffees’ Player of the Match award for a performance against Spurs – the 19-year-old has been back in pre-season with United and featured in the first two of our four friendlies this summer.

The teenager is now set to gain further experience in south London this season, under the tutelage of new Palace boss Jo Potter, who took charge of Rangers in the same summer that Emma departed the Scottish giants for United.

Potter went on to win domestic cup doubles in each of her two years with the Glasgow club before being appointed at Palace earlier this off-season, as they seek to bounce back from last term’s relegation in their first campaign as a WSL side.

The Eagles were crowned champions of the second tier in 2023/24 and Emma will be hoping to make an impact as she heads to the capital for the new WSL2 campaign, which starts for Palace away to London rivals Charlton Athletic on Sunday 7 September.

Everyone at United would like to wish Emma the very best of luck for her time at Crystal Palace.