Alessia
Russo

Alessia penned a two-year deal with the Reds after spending three years in the US with North Carolina Tar Heels, representing the University of North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference. She previously had spells at Brighton and Chelsea as a youngster and while Russo was at Charlton Athletic’s Centre of Excellence, she was a mascot for her future first United manager Casey Stoney, who was captain of the Addicks at the time. Russo’s talent was recognised early on when she was selected for England’s Under-15s. Thereafter she represented her country at every age level and was part of the squad that won bronze at the 2018 Under-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She made her senior debut in March 2020 against Spain in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, and was part of the senior Lionesses’ September 2020 training camp. In 2021, she came off the bench to score three times against Latvia, setting a record for the fastest-ever England hat-trick. A dynamic and powerful forward with a wealth of pace, Alessia made a lightning start at United, registering three goals and two assists in her first five appearances before her 2020/21 campaign was sadly cut short by injury. She was back on the scoring trail in 2021/22, with her strikes including a Women's Super League effort in the Manchester derby against City and a memorable winner away to Arsenal in the Continental League Cup quarter-finals.