After her first appearance for West Bromwich Albion Women, Manchester City’s Maddie Oliver is “excited to get started” following her recent dual-registration move.
Oliver had spent the first part of the season on loan at Burnley Women but made the move across the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier to join the Albion this weekend.
Oliver came off of the bench for the final half an hour during the Baggies’ 7-1 rout of Sutton Coldfield in the Birmingham FA County Challenge Cup on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s exciting to get into the matchday squad for the first time. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the girls better, and I’m hoping for more minutes in the tank coming up.”
Turning 18 on Friday. ✅
— West Bromwich Albion Women (@WBAWomen) November 17, 2024
Signing for the Albion. ✅
Straight into the matchday squad today. ✅
It's been some week for our latest addition! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Sa7dlmxOSj
The gifted young defender joins the club looking to emulate the performance levels of previous dual-registered defenders Jess Revill from Leicester and Lucy Newell from Manchester United who commanded the backline last season.
Oliver, who turned 18 on Friday, spoke about her thoughts when joining the club, “For me, it was a no-brainer because of how we play.
“I know we play good football and try to get forward as much as possible. It’s how I like to play, as attacking as possible so I felt it was a good match.
“The way we play and the combinations we look for, along with how we go forward – it’s a great match.”
Second-half switches for the Baggies:
— West Bromwich Albion Women (@WBAWomen) November 17, 2024
➡️ Fran Orthodoxou, Mariam Mahmood and Maddie Oliver.
⬅️ Ali Miller, Liv Rabjohn and Izzy Green.
💙🤍 3-1 🌹 | (61')
The Manchester City prospect was impressed with how her new teammates performed in the cup, “We’ve got some good goals today and some really nice football being played. I was just thinking ‘I’d better put a performance in’.
“First impressions are important and I was making sure I kept up with the game and put in a good shift. Hopefully, I can make more and more of an impact.”
Having made her debut at home Oliver hopes that she’s made a positive impression with the Albion faithful, “I’d say I’m quite an aggressive, attacking player from the back. I like to help with build-up play and get forward when I can.”
As Siobhan Hodgetts-Still’s side heads into their Adobe Women’s FA Cup second-round fixture against Worcester City Women next weekend, Oliver has her sights set on getting into the starting eleven.
📩 (1) 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 from our latest signing. pic.twitter.com/zs4OJFqI3p
— West Bromwich Albion Women (@WBAWomen) November 17, 2024
“There’s nothing wrong with healthy competition, there are some great players in this squad, especially in my position. It does make it more difficult but that’s football and you have to fight for your spot.
“I’m not expecting to walk into the starting XI, as the weeks go by and more performances from me – I can get in there.”
