Celtic FC Women Squad 2023/24

Clare Wilde takes a look at the Celtic FC Women’s squad for the 2023/24 campaign as it stands ahead of the season opener on Sunday. The article will be updated with new signings as and when they join and only includes those players available to feature.

Goalkeepers

#1 CHLOE LOGAN

26-year-old Chloe Logan has played between the sticks for Celtic since she signed in 2019. Coming up through the club youth system, she spent some time at Stirling University before returning to play in the hoops. Last season she was out with a knee injury incurred during an eventful game against Glasgow City in February that put her out of action not only for the rest of 21/22 but for the entirety of the last campaign with the exception of one start against Partick Thistle in the league towards the end of the season. She is now fully fit and with the departure of Pamela Tajonar, will be expected to resume her place as Fran’s #1, competing for the spot with Rachael Johnstone

#52 RACHAEL JOHNSTONE

A Celtic fan, originally from the Isle of Lewis, Rachael was a regular starter for Fran Alonso’s side and made one appearance last season before being out through injury for the rest of 22/23. Prior to injury she was competing with Chloe Logan for a place as a regular starter in goal for the club. She has also made appearances for the national team at U19 level and we expect her friendly rivalry for minutes with Chloe Logan to continue this season with both keepers returning to full fitness.

DEFENDERS

#18 CAITLIN HAYES

Hayes has become one of the most well known faces in this team and last season stepped up to the role of vice-captain. She is an archetypal central defender who plays on the right of Fran’s back three but has been known to move up the park when required to present a goalscoring threat as well as making an emergency appearance in goal during the 21/22 campaign. From a family of Celtic fans, she started her football career at Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton. Joining Celtic FC Women in September 2020 from Cypriot club BArcelona FA she has quickly become one of the leaders both on and off the park and her pink headband has become an iconic look for young fans following the team. A tall, fearless player, she consistently provides a great attacking option in the box from set pieces, finishing Celtic’s third highest goalscorer last season.

#15 KELLY CLARK

Captain Kelly Clark has consistently played a crucial role in the middle of Fran’s back three and  over the summer committed her future to the club until 2026. Her awareness on the ball and ability to read the game from the back as well as her calming presence, makes her a key player in this squad, despite being one of the players who also has a job outwith football. Starting her career at Forfar Farmington, Kelly moved to Celtic in 2013 and has been Captain of Celtic FC Women since 2014, last season reaching her 250th appearance milestone. She is an integral part of the set up, having played a major role in helping the team transition to professional status and acting as a leader and steady hand on the park. She has also been called up to the SWNT, most recently this summer to compete in friendlies against Northern Ireland and Finland.

#67 LUANA MUÑOZ

A new signing and a no nonsense Argentinian centre back, Luana makes a big move coming to Celtic this summer from Racing Club, the team she supports back home after a period spent playing collegiate soccer in the US. She has also featured for the Argetinian national team back in 2019. With her experience and having regularly captained her team at Racing Club,  she will most likely be looked to as another leader on the park, alongside her defensive teammates Kelly Clark and Caitlin Hayes.

#6 CHLOE CRAIG

One of the most versatile members of the squad, Chloe has filled in at central defence, full back and wing back. A lifelong Celtic fan, Celtic is the only club she has played for having been at the club since 2009. She has made well over 200 appearances and taken the role of vice-captain in previous seasons. She has consistently stepped up to the spot as preferred penalty taker and this summer committed her future to the club, signing until 2026.

#27 HANA KERNER

Hanna signed for Celtic in the last January window and during the second part of the season quickly made her mark on the right wing as a fast attacking player who aslo has an instinctive ability to cover ground and defend the box. She played collegiate soccer in her native US before moving to play in Europe, coming to Celtic from Swedish side Pilea. Suffering an all too common ACL injury at Celtic Park during the game against Glasgow City in May, Kerner is currently recovering and it is not known at this stage when she might be back to full strength and able to get back on the pitch.

#2 CELYA BARCLAIS

A 22 year old defender, the French youngster comes to Celtic from Stade de Reims where she spent last season following spells at a number of French clubs after coming up through the PSG academy. She has also had youth call ups to the French national side and will be looking to make her mark at Celtic, already appearing in friendly matches this summer it remains to be seen how she might fit into Alonso’s squad. 

#22 LUCY ASHWORTH-CLIFFORD

The 24-year-old, originally from Manchester signed for Celtic last summer from English side Lewes. Coming into the Celtic squad last season she quickly demonstrated that her pace and deftness on the ball would be invaluable up the left wing. Her season was cut short, however, following an ACL injury incurred in a game against Rangers at the end of November and she has been working hard to get back to full strength ever since. Whilst anticipating that she will not be ready to play in the UWCL games in September, a return to the pitch looks likely this year and she can hopefully return to her previous form.

#40 ABBIE CUSACK

A young defender who has been training with the first team for some time and made appearances, including starts in the pre season this summer. A product of the Celtic academy it remains to be seen how much game time she might get this season especially with Luana seemingly coming in to fill the left back role vacated by Claire O’Riordan but it will undoubtedly be exciting to see her develop over the course of the year.

MIDFIELDERS

#5 NATALIE ROSS

Another member of the squad with a huge amount of Scottish Premiership experience, 33-year-old Ross returned to the side last season having missed the entirety of 21/22 through injury. Last season, however, she appeared to be back to full strength providing a skillful and physical presence in the defensive midfield whilst also continuing her ability to move forward into space and score goals. Her contract was extended over the summer until 2026 which will provide consistency and continuity within the team and retains her wealth of valuable experience.

#9 SHEN MENGYU

Signing for Celtic from Shanghai Shengli, Shen became the first professional Chinese women’s footballer to sign for a UK club when she joined in July 2021. Still a young player she has become a dynamic and integral part of the midfield, although did not see as many starts last season as previously. She is an extremely adaptable player who excels moving the ball quickly through midfield and making key passes to create attacking play. This summer she was called up to the Chinese national team and made the first ever appearance for a Celtic player in the Women’s World Cup coming on against Denmark.

#11 OLIVIA CHANCE

A New Zealand international, Liv has had a varied career including spells in Iceland, Australia and the English WSL and Championship. She came to Celtic in 2021 signing from W-League side Brisbane Roar in Australia and made an instant impact, adding dynamism and flair to the midfield. She returns to Celtic duty for the season after a summer playing for her national team at the World Cup.

#8 JENNY SMITH

Signing on her 21st birthday at the end of June, Jenny came from SWPL side Hearts where she started as an academy player. She became part of the first team set up at just 15 and with over 100 appearances for her former club under her belt, brings experience to the side that belies her age. She has also made several U19 appearances for Scotland and looks to be a bold, attacking player, having already scored for the hoops in a pre-season friendly against Motherwell.

#73 MARIA MCANENY

After a productive 21/22 season on loan at Hearts, this 19 year old academy graduate rejoined Celtic at the start of last season and has successfully grown into her role as part of the attacking midfield. Her future with the club was also secured over the summer as one of the players extending their contracts until 2026. McAneny is a key taker of set pieces with an consistently accurate delivery from corners that has been crucial to a side which prides itself on the ability to convert from these types of opportunity. Hopefully we are able to see more of her talent on the pitch this season as her game continues to develop surrounded by more experienced players.

#28 SHEN MENGLU

Celtic’s second Chinese signing joined the club at the start of last season from Portuguese side Sporting CP Futebol Feminino. A player with a deft first touch and the ability to take defenders on with great delivery into the box, she has proved a thorn in the side of SWPL opposition, making her mark on the left wingback position following a season ending injury to her competition for that spot in the team, Lucy Ashworth Clifford.

#11 COLETTE CAVANAGH

Coming to Celtic on a two-year deal, Colette returns to the club for the third time as a player who came through the academy making her senior debut for the club at 16 years old before joining Spartans. She returned to the club briefly in 2018 prior to joining Hibs then Rangers last season. A stand out player in the league since she was young, she featured mainly on the bench for Rangers last season and will be coming to Celtic looking to make regular starts and be an integral part of Fran’s midfield.

#27 TIREE BURCHILL

An academy graduate Tiree made her senior debut for Celtic against Motherwell at the end of the 20/21 season at the age of only 16. She returned to Celtic last season as a regular part of Fran’s squad  following a fruitful loan spell at Hamilton Accies before going out on loan again in February to Motherwell where she had an impressive finish to the season. A left sided player, who’s composure on the ball has visibly developed, she also has an understanding of what it means to wear the hoops as the daughter of former Celtic forward Mark Burchill. She has also made two appearances for the Scotland U19 side.

#97 NOUR IMANE ADDI

Coming to Celtic from the South Alabama Jaguars, Addi is a 26 year old midfielder who becomes the first African to play for Celtic FC Women. As part of the collegiate soccer set up in Alabama she totalled 15 goals and five assists for the side in two seasons and also has international experience having been called up to the Moroccan national team in 2017.

#41 CLARE GOLDIE

A Scotland U19 midfielder and academy player, Clare started training with the first team squad last summer before making a handful of appearances off the bench for the hoops at the start of last season. Her debut start came against Aberdeen in a 3-0 win over Aberdeen in February, setting up one of the goals for teammate Natalie Ross.

#43 LUCY BARCLAY

Another relatively unknown to Celtic fans young midfielder from the academy, Lucy has made recent appearances for Scotland Schools and the national U17 side. She has also been training with the first team and might hope to get some competitive minutes this season as she develops her game.

#46 AMY SHARKEY

Another Scottish youth international who joined the club’s academy in February, Amy has made two appearances for the national U16 squad, scoring in both games against Portugal and Poland. At just 15 years old and training with the first team, she clearly has a bright future ahead of her.

#50 MAISIE STEWART

Despite being only 16 years of age, Scotland U16  midfielder Stewart has, like a selection of other academy graduates, made appearances in pre season for the first team in friendlies, even scoring a goal against SWPL opposition Motherwell in a 6-1 victory over the side at Barrowfield. An energetic player who is excited to get involved in play, she’s another face that might become more familiar to fans as the season progresses.

FORWARDS

#7 AMY GALLACHER

Off the back of five years at Hibs, Gallacher came to Celtic at the start of last season ready to make an impact as an attacking threat in Fran’s squad. A versatile player with huge experience in the Scottish league she has consistently scored goals and provided assists making her mark early with a goal against her former club on her Celtic debut. She also has an excellent Celtic pedigree with her great grandfather being the famous goalscorer Patsy Gallacher.

#21 KIT LOFERSKI

Florida born Kit joined the club in March 2023 from Finnish side Åland United and made her debut the day she signed coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Rangers. She scored her debut goal against Hearts a few weeks later and it quickly became apparent that her speed and technical ability combined would continue to make her a real threat in front of goal for Fran’s side. Most famously she scored the third goal in a 3-1 victory against Glasgow City at the end of last season in front of thousands at Celtic Park.

#20 PAULA PARTIDO

Despite being only 18 years old, this Real Madrid loanee comes to Celtic for the new season with a wealth of experience, having played for the Real Madrid first team in domestic and Champions League football as well as being part of the Spanish squad that lifted the U17s World Cup in 2022. Already impressing in pre-season with 3 goals to her name against Spanish opposition in Gran Canaria this summer she’s a young forward who could be a dangerous target up top to add to Celtic’s goal tally this season.

#12 MURPHY AGNEW

Arriving this summer in Glasgow on a two year deal from Australia’s A League where she played for the Newcastle Jets, the American midfielder has her football origins in the US collegiate system also spending some time training with NWSL side OL Reign. Prior to playing in Australia she also spent time in the Icelandic league.