Manchester United Women have officially parted ways with defender Millie Turner. The club confirmed Tuesday that Turner is headed to Birmingham City on a permanent transfer, ending an eight-year run that saw her rise from a reformation-era signing to a captain and FA Cup winner.
Turner joined United in 2018 when the club rebooted its women’s program. She helped the team win promotion to the Women’s Super League in that first season and never really looked back. Over 133 league appearances, she scored nine goals and wore the armband multiple times. She was part of the squad that beat Tottenham Hotspur for the FA Cup in 2024.
But here’s the thing about Turner: she’s not just a steady presence on the back line. She’s also engaged to United midfielder Lisa Naalsund, which makes this move a little more complicated on a personal level. The couple announced their engagement last month.
A Defender Who Defined the Culture
Matt Johnson, United’s director of women’s football, had nothing but praise for Turner. She’s a great professional and a fantastic leader, he said. Her impact will continue long after she’s gone because her character helped shape the culture of the group.
Johnson also noted that the move is about playing time. Turner, 30, needs regular minutes at this stage of her career. Birmingham can offer that. The Blues just won the WSL 2 title and secured promotion with a 2-0 win over Charlton on the final day. They’ll be playing in the top flight next season.
Turner sounded genuinely excited about the switch. This is where I want to be, she said. The way the girls fight for each other and play for each other, it’s something I really want to be part of. She called the Birmingham project exciting and said there’s no ceiling to what they can achieve.
Birmingham’s New Leader on the Pitch
Birmingham head coach Amy Merricks welcomed Turner for her experience and quality at the highest level. But she also pointed to something less tangible. She’s a brilliant character and a real leader, Merricks said. The standards she’ll set every day will have a really positive impact on this group.
Turner started her senior career at Everton and also spent time at Bristol City before returning to United. Her journey has come full circle in some ways: she’s back in the second division with a team that’s on the rise. But this time she’s not rebuilding a program from scratch. She’s joining a squad that just earned its way back to the WSL.
For United, losing a veteran leader is never easy. But Johnson made it clear the club supports the move. Turner gets the playing time she needs. Birmingham gets a proven winner. And United gets to say goodbye to someone who helped build the foundation of their women’s team.
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