Khadija Shaw: Manchester City without club record goalscorer after visa error

Manchester City had to do without record goalscorer Khadija Shaw. 5-0 victory on Wednesday in the Champions League against Paris FC after the club failed to apply for a visa.

The Jamaican international – top scorer in the Women's Super League last season – was unable to travel to the first leg of the second qualifying round in France, according to information from BBC Sport.

City are confident that there will be no visa issues in the future, so they did not submit an application and tried to get a delayed visa for the 27-year-old. However, the application was rejected.

City, last season's WSL runners-up behind Chelsea on goal difference, have failed to reach the group stage of the Champions League in the last three seasons.

The winners of the second qualifying round, the return leg of which will take place on Thursday, 26 September, will qualify for the group stage.

Shaw became Manchester City Women's record goalscorer when she scored her 68th goal in just her 82nd game for the club in March. She joined City from Bordeaux in 2021.

After an outstanding 2023–24 season, she was named Player of the Season by the WSL and the Football Writers' Association.