Manchester United Women have secured a major transfer coup with the signing of prolific Germany international striker Lea Schüller. The 28-year-old arrives at Carrington with a formidable reputation, having netted 54 goals in 82 appearances for her country and joining at what is considered the peak of her career.
A Proven Goalscorer Arrives at Carrington
Since their promotion to the Women's Super League in 2019, no Manchester United player has managed to score more than 10 league goals in a single campaign. In Schüller, they have acquired a forward who has surpassed that tally seven seasons consecutively in Germany's top-flight Frauen Bundesliga. She has signed a contract with the club until June 2029.
Daniel Kraus, who coached Schüller at SGS Essen between 2016 and 2019, believes the move is perfectly timed. "It could be a win-win situation for Lea and for Manchester United," he said. "She has everything to be a world-class striker – she is fast, she has two great feet, she is good with her head, and she is strong."
How Schüller's Game Fits United's Style
Kraus, now coaching Wolfsburg's under-20 side, highlighted how Schüller's attributes could dovetail with United's existing talent. "If she has Fridolina Rolfö to the side with crosses and Ella Toone behind her who can feed her with passes – she is really good in the box and with her head – she will score goals," he explained.
This analysis aligns with Schüller's own assessment. In her first interview with MUTV, she stated: "I'm a very direct player so my strength is the speed and headers... the team looks like it makes many crosses so that's perfect for me." The statistics support this: according to Opta, United are rated fourth for the highest number of crosses in the WSL this season.
From Essen to Bayern: A Career Built on Goals
Schüller began her senior career at SGS Essen, where Kraus helped develop her all-round game. "We had a really young team," he recalled. "Lea was at a really young age, so I needed to teach her that she is not only waiting for the ball... but also that we needed her to defend."
Her prolific form at Essen earned a move to Bayern Munich, where she scored over 100 goals. Although game time became harder to secure this season, her consistent scoring record made her a prime target for United, who have been craving a proven match-winner.
The club hopes familiar faces will help her settle; she has previously played with defender Dominique Janssen at Essen and midfielder Julia Zigiotti Olme at Bayern. With her prime years ahead of her, Lea Schüller's arrival signals a statement of intent from Manchester United as they aim to challenge at the top of the Women's Super League.
