Manchester City Sign Carlotta Wamser: A Key Addition for Defense

Manchester City have moved again in the transfer market, sealing a four-year deal for Germany full-back Carlotta Wamser from Bayer Leverkusen.

The 22-year-old, comfortable on both the left and right side of defence, becomes City’s third major arrival of the summer, following defender Niamh Charles from Chelsea and forward Beth Mead from Arsenal. It is another statement signing from the WSL champions, who open their title defence at home to Birmingham City on Sunday.

City needed this one. Charles is already on the injury list, joined by Grace Clinton, Vivianne Miedema, Jade Rose and Laura Wienroither, leaving the back line stretched before a ball has been kicked. Wamser’s versatility instantly eases that pressure.

Her rise has been steady rather than flashy. She came through the German youth ranks, winning the Under-17 European Championship in 2019, and has since earned 14 senior caps for Germany. In club football, she joined Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer in July 2025 and has grown into one of the Bundesliga’s most highly regarded young full-backs.

The move to Manchester, though, is a clear step into a bigger spotlight.

“I had a perfect welcome here and I already feel very good here and I look forward to my time here in Manchester,” Wamser said after signing. “The English league is the best league in the world and Manchester City is one of the best clubs in the world.

“I feel like I need the next step for my career and I feel that I can develop as a player here. And I like the challenge as well, so I think it's the perfect step for me right now.”

Inside the club, there is a sense they have landed a long-term cornerstone for the defence. Director of football Therese Sjogran did not hide her enthusiasm.

“We are delighted to welcome Carlotta to the club,” she said. “She is a player we've admired for some time and know she will bring energy, passion and a willingness to learn to the team.

“For such a young, exciting talent to trust us with the next step of her career is something we feel conveys a strong message of what we are building here.”

City now head into the new season with another international defender in their ranks, a back line reshaped but still packed with pedigree, and a 22-year-old ready to test herself in what she calls the best league in the world. The only question left is how quickly Wamser turns potential into Premier League dominance.