A TALENTED teenage footballer from Tameside has taken a giant step towards fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional player after signing her first contract with Liverpool FC Women.
Neve McDonald, a former Longdendale High School pupil, has put pen to paper on professional terms with the Premier League outfit.
The 18-year-old will wear the number 57 shirt as she begins the next chapter of her career with the Merseyside club.
“It’s a very proud moment for me and my family,” she told Liverpool’s media team. “I’m really grateful to be in this position and I can’t wait to get going and get started.
“My family has obviously done a lot for me over the years, and I wouldn’t be in this position without that. It’s a big thank you to them and my brother, because if it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t be playing.
“It means everything to pull on the Liverpool shirt every day. Growing up, everyone wants to play football professionally and live out their dream. Now I am so it’s a really happy moment for me.”
Her dad Stuart told the Tameside Correspondent that the whole family is very proud of what she had achieved.
“Her dedication and hard work over the years has been and is a credit to her, and now the hard work starts all over again,” he said. “We are all very excited about what the future holds for Neve.”
Neve has been working towards becoming a professional footballer since she first started playing the sport at around six years old.
Her footballing journey began at Dukinfield Youth Soccer School, where she played on Saturdays at Under-8s and Under-9s level. She then joined Stalybridge Celtic Juniors, competing in the East Manchester Junior Football League, before attending trials for Manchester City’s Under-10s Girls Academy.
She successfully earned a place at City and spent six seasons with the club before making the move to Liverpool’s Under-16s in 2023.
Neve quickly progressed through the ranks and became a regular for Liverpool’s Under-21s in 2024 after signing a two-year contract, which also included higher education on site at the club’s Melwood training base.
The teenager has already experienced senior football with Liverpool, making her first-team debut at just 16 years old against local rivals Everton.
She came on as a substitute in a 4-0 victory in the Women’s League Cup and thought she had marked the occasion with a goal, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
That remains her only senior appearance for Liverpool to date, but she was named in Gareth Taylor’s matchday squad on five occasions last season.
Neve has also established herself on the international stage. She currently represents Scotland Women Under-19s, having made her debut for the country at Under-16 level in 2024.
After years of dedication, development and hard work, the Tameside teenager has secured her first professional contract with one of the biggest clubs in English football. And for Neve, the next stage of the dream is just beginning.