Sam Mewis says prospect of winning Champions League attracted her to Manchester City

Manchester City’s newest signing Sam Mewis has said that the prospect of winning the Champions League helped influence her decision to join the Women’s Super League runners-up. 

The US international and World Cup winner signed for Gareth Taylor’s side from North Carolina Courage, in America’s National Women’s Soccer League, on Monday. City lost out on the WSL title in May to Chelsea after the league was decided on a points-per-game basis due to the coronavirus pandemic, but in finishing second managed to qualify for Europe for the fifth time in succession. They have twice made the semi-final of the competition - losing both times to Lyon - but did not make it past the round of 16 in their last two attempts.

27-year-old Mewis, who is currently quarantined following her arrival in England, follows in the footsteps of fellow US international Carli Lloyd, who joined Manchester City on a short-term deal in 2017.

Mewis said: “I’ve always wanted to play overseas and I feel like playing Champions League is on every player’s bucket list. The prospect of winning something I haven’t won before is really exciting. What really drew me here is that desire to keep developing, to keep growing and to add new depths and skills to my game. Competing for something new is an exciting part of that.

“I was talking to [USWNT team mate] Becky Sauerbrunn and she was telling me about her time in Norway [with Roa IL]. She made herself say yes to everything, and she’s an introvert. She definitely tried to insert herself into the team, try new things and [have] new adventures, and I appreciated she shared that with me. I know Becky and I know her tendencies to be more of an introvert - but it was a reminder I’m not just here for soccer. I’m here for a life experience, so I’ll try to say yes if anyone asks me to do anything.”

The Massachusetts-born midfielder - whose sister Kristie is a professional footballer for Houston Dash in the NWSL - is City’s second summer signing after England striker Chloe Kelly joined from Everton last month. Mewis, capped 67 times for the US, said that she hoped to return to the Courage one day but in the meantime felt being signed for City was “such an honour”. She watched the men’s Premier League growing up and said that she was inspired by All or Nothing, the 2018 Amazon Prime documentary about Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.

“I really like Kevin de Bruyne,” she continued. “I’d try to emulate him if I could. I watched the Amazon series a couple of times and I really admire the way the men’s team operates, so I’m excited for their next couple of weeks. I watched the US teams growing up but watched the Premier League more as I grew up.

“I know a bunch of the [Man City Women] midfielders here and they’re so talented. Keira [Walsh], Jill [Scott] and I remember watching Caroline [Weir] during the Women’s World Cup and thinking she was such a great player - so smart and tactical. I have to earn my playing time and perform well to make sure I get out there on the field. I hope I can bring my attacking mindset. In America we play a very aggressive style and while I’ll have to adapt, I hope I can bring that to Manchester City.”