European Women’s Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas, Khadija Shaw and GOAL’s top 30 footballers of the 2025-26 season – ranked
Jade Rose was not unfamiliar with senior football when she arrived at Manchester City in the summer, having accumulated plenty of caps for Canada during her time at Harvard University. But this has still been her first season in senior club football and that fact makes her performances all the more outstanding.
Throw in all the other factors – a new club, a new league, new team-mates and a new manager – and how well Rose has settled has been brilliant. Her centre-back partner has changed, too, but the 23-year-old has been constantly reliable.
Ranking joint-fifth in the WSL for shots blocked, Rose’s defensive work has been excellent, with her leading City’s squad for clearances and ranking in the top five for interceptions made and aerial duels won. Her importance in possession has shone, too, with only two players in England’s top-flight registering more accurate passes than Rose, who is also second among City’s outfield players for accurate long balls.
“In the years to come, in the near future, she could become one of the best defenders in the world,” City’s star striker Khadija Shaw said of Rose. That speaks volumes.
