Le Tissier: It’s like it was meant to be

The 20-year-old has really hit the ground running and is forming a formidable partnership with Millie Turner at the heart of the Reds’ defence.

Such has been Maya’s early season form, she has been nominated for both the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month and the WSL Player of the Month awards for September.

United Women manager Marc Skinner and Katie Zelem are also up for the monthly WSL manager and player awards, respectively, following the Reds’ scintillating start to the campaign.

Le Tissier, who was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer, sat alongside fellow summer arrival Grace Clinton in a recent episode of our Emerging Reds series and explained how her family encouraged her to make the move to Manchester.

“All of my family are [supportive] to be honest,” she said. It was big, [and] they were like ‘just do it.’

“I wasn’t sure, and they said ‘no, you’re good enough. Just do it.’ I thought ‘okay, let’s just do it’ [move to United]."

The defender also revealed her family's links to the club, expressing how proud it makes her feel to pull on the Manchester United shirt.

“It’s quite nice because my mum’s dad, who died a few years ago, was a massive United fan,” she said. “He would never think I played for United, so, for me to be here, it’s really nice for the family."

Upon arriving at United in the summer, Le Tissier was issued with the no. 15 shirt. This number, like the club, is something that means a great deal to the young defender.

“My granny, which was his wife, her favourite number is 15,” she revealed. “Marc [Skinner] just gave me 15 without even asking.

“It’s really special, it was like it was meant to be.”