As a solid and experienced defender, Maria Thorisdottir was brought in to bolster the United defence.
The Norway international joined United from rivals Chelsea on 22 January 2021, signing a contract until the end of the 2022/23 campaign with the option of a further year.
She started her football career at local side Klepp back in her home country, but retired from football in 2012 due to injury and started to play handball in the elite division in Norway. Her dad, Thorir Hergeirsson, from Iceland, is the head coach of Norway’s women’s national team in handball.
Two years later, Thorisdottir made a return to the football pitch, once again for Klepp, before she moved to Chelsea in 2017.
For the Blues, she won the WSL twice, as well as winning the FA Cup in 2018 and the FA Women’s League Cup and Community Shield in 2020.
Our no. 3 was a part of the Norwegian national team which participated in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups as well as the Euros in 2017 and 2022.
Thorisdottir made her United debut against Reading in February 2021 and, later that year, scored her first Reds goal during a 3-1 win at Leicester City.