The English team’s head of recruitment, Harvey Bussell, is headed to Utah.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Royals defender Kate Del Fava (8) kicks the ball during the game against the Kansas City Current at America First Field in Sandy on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
Manchester United Women head of player recruitment Harvey Bussell is set to join National Women’s Soccer League side Utah Royals.
Bussell joined United in October 2022 from Millwall, where he was head of recruitment, as a talent scout. Bussell was named head of player recruitment on United’s women’s side in June 2023.
He is set to leave his role at United at the end of this summer transfer window and take up the same position with bottom-of-the-table Utah Royals.
This summer, United have made just one signing in 27-year-old Sweden midfielder Julia Zigiotti Olme.
Under Bussell, United signed Brazil forward Geyse, Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa, 2023 World Cup winner Irene Guerrero, England defender Gabby George, USWNT goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Netherlands defender Dominique Janssen, France forward Melvine Malard, Canada international Simi Awujo and Wales defender Gemma Evans.
Of those recruitments, three have since departed (Geyse, Guerrero and Evans), amongst other high-profile exits including former club captain Katie Zelem, former England goalkeeper Mary Earps and Spain forward Lucia Garcia.
United finished third in the Women’s Super League (WSL) last season and are set to compete in the Women’s Champions League qualification stages next month. Since the start of this year, Bussell has been working closely with director of football Jason Wilcox in putting a data team in place.
Bussell will become the fourth backroom staff departure for United this summer. Assistant Charlotte Healy has taken over as head coach of Bristol City, while goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock departed to take up the corresponding position with the Canada Women’s national team, ending nearly seven years with the club. Assistant coach Lawrence Shamieh is set to join Tottenham Hotspur in a reunion with new head coach Martin Ho.
Utah sits bottom of the NWSL after 15 matches. They recently sold USWNT striker Ally Sentnor to the Kansas City Current for a record-breaking intra-league transfer fee of $600,000.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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