Malta international Maria Farrugia signs for Sheffield United

Malta international forward Maria Farrugia will be starting a new adventure in England as she has been announced as a new Sheffield United player.

The Gozitan-born player will be playing in the Barclays Women’s Championship, England’s second-tier.

“I’m really thrilled to be joining such a big club,” Farrugia told the club’s website.

“I’m really excited and grateful to the club for giving me this opportunity.

“The girls have made me feel really welcome, the coaching staff too. We’re building into it, getting better each day and every training session.”

Head coach Ash Thompson said, “Maria is a player we identified early as an important player who make an impact in all phases of the game and we’re delighted to get it done and over the line.

“She’s an exciting player, very skillful and can both score and create goals. We’re really pleased she’s decided to join us and she’s a player I’m sure the fans will love watching.”

It will be Farrugia’s fourth club in English football having already played for Sunderland, Durham and Lewes with whom she was on the books last season.

In 19 appearances for Lewes, Farrugia registered three goals – including a brace against her new club – and two assists across all competitions.

Farrugia was the only player to score for Malta in their League B campaign in the European qualifiers, finding the net against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Portugal.

Sheffield United take on Durham, one of Farrugia’s former clubs, in their Championship opener on September 8.