“Take a moment to enjoy this special landmark. Bunny Shaw is a Manchester City centurion”
Of all the incredible moments and milestones in Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s career to date – this was perhaps the most significant.
The Jamaican was already City’s record scorer, she was already a two-time WSL Golden Boot winner, but now, she’s become the Club’s first-ever player to reach 100 goals.
And it seemed rather fitting that it was Vivianne Miedema, herself no stranger to ripping up the record books, who set up the historic strike against Aston Villa.
A free-flowing City move, ending with a clinical Shaw finish. How many times have we heard words to that effect over the past five seasons?
Marking the moment by imitating the trademark meditation pose of fellow free-scoring Blue Erling Haaland, the Jamaican was mobbed by her team-mates as the significance of her 100th strike began to hit home.
And what did Shaw do after becoming our first-ever 100-goal player? She scored three more before the final whistle, of course!
Talk about picking up where you left off…
Even Villa captain Rachel Daly joked about our number nine's ruthlessness on her Daly Brightness podcast...
“At one point I turned to her and said: 'Can you stop ******* scoring?!'"
All Goals
Bunny reached 100 goals in just 120 matches.
She's the only player to win the WSL Golden Boot while at City and one of only three to win it in back-to-back seasons, alongside Miedema and Sam Kerr.
Despite already being third in the all-time rankings, Shaw also holds the best minutes per goal ratio in WSL history for players who've scored at least ten times.
The Jamaican was scoring in the WSL at an average of every 80 minutes en route to her 100th City strike!
Right Foot
Left Foot
Header
When she reached 100 goals, Shaw held the record for the most headed goals in WSL history (28).
First Touch
In total, 61 of Bunny's first 100 goals were scored with her first touch.
Four of those were penalties, meaning she also bagged 96 goals from open play en route to her City century.
Women's Super League
71 Goals
82 Games
Women's FA Cup
15 Goals
14 Games
Women's League Cup
7 Goals
15 Games
Women's Champions League
7 Goals
9 Games
Familiar Foes
Shaw has found the net against 17 of the 20 English teams she's faced and four of the six European sides.
But which of those opponents has she enjoyed playing the most?
Tottenham
13 Goals
11 Appearances
Leicester
11 Goals
10 Appearances
Everton
11 Goals
10 Appearances
Liverpool
10 Goals
7 Appearances
As incredible as those numbers are, they only tell half the story.
Let's hear from the woman herself, and the incredible journey she's been on.
It all started on Merseyside, as Shaw announced herself to the WSL in style...
Everton • Goodison Park • 4 September 2021
The one that started it all.
City had taken the race for the Barclays Women’s Super League title to the final day in 2020/21 and began the new campaign as one of the pre-season favourites.
But Gareth Taylor’s side were handed what seemed a difficult first assignment, away to Everton at Goodison Park in September 2021.
It was the perfect setting for Shaw to announce herself in the English game…
“Outside of the World Cup, that was probably the biggest stadium I’d played in,” Shaw reflects with a smile.
“I remember the atmosphere and my adrenaline. It was a crazy game. It was my first for the Club and I remember telling my family that I was nervous.
“The game went on, Hayley [Raso] picked the ball up and went down the line, I went into the box because the space was there, and she played it across, and I tried to do the best I can.
“That first goal was a great feeling.”
We’d go on to win 4-0 at Goodison – three points and the first of many strikes for Shaw.
Leicester City • Joie Stadium • 29 September 2021
Three weeks later and a first hat-trick would follow for Shaw in a much-needed FA Cup win over Leicester City.
That early season promise from Goodison Park had been dealt a significant blow by an unprecedented injury crisis, and City came to the Joie Stadium on the back of a Champions League exit and successive WSL defeats to Tottenham and Arsenal.
But after a first half of few clearcut chances, Shaw’s first goal on home soil sparked a devastating attacking display.
All three were with one touch, and all three were inside the six-yard box. They might not have been spectacular, but that didn’t matter to the Jamaican as she reflected on the win after the game.
“That’s one of the things I’ve been trying to work on every day, to get in the right spots and time the balls as they come.
“When it comes off on the pitch, you’re so happy because I’ve been practicing so much.”
A stunning Vicky Losada strike, Alex Greenwood penalty and Filippa Angeldahl effort earned a 6-0 triumph over Leicester, but it was Shaw’s treble that underlined the dominant display.
The forward provided a coy response when asked if we’d see a few more three-goal hauls from her at City in the future.
“It’s a team effort, I’m scoring the goals but without the team it wouldn’t be possible.
“As long as I get the balls, I’m in the right positions and can help the team, you can see more.”
It's safe to say that Shaw was right when it came to her hat-trick prediction...
United • Leigh Sports Village • 9 October 2021
Shaw’s eyes lit up as Demi Stokes swung the cross in from the left.
City were up against it at the time, having been reduced to ten players following Georgia Stanway’s early sending off against Manchester United, but found ourselves ahead when the Jamaican marked her first derby appearance with a goal.
Spinning away from Aoife Mannion, Shaw powered an unstoppable header into the bottom corner of Mary Earps’ net from Stokes’ ball in, before being mobbed by her team-mates in front of the travelling City fans.
We’d ultimately have to settle for a share of the spoils, with Ellen White cancelling out two quickfire goals from the hosts when she was first on the scene after Jess Park’s effort had struck the bar.
However, given the context of the game’s early dismissal, Shaw’s goal certainly made it feel like a point gained, rather than two dropped.
It also wouldn't be the last significant goal that the Jamaican would grab against our rivals...
With 19 goals and a League Cup winners' medal, Shaw's debut season at City was a success.
But her greatest goalscoring season to date was on the horizon...
It was all change at City heading into the 2022/23 campaign with several new faces coming through the door during the summer.
But from the get-go, Shaw was looking sharp.
Her 20th goal in City colours would come just four minutes into the new season against WFC Tomiris-Turan.
Another clever darting run to the near post, this time to meet a Lauren Hemp cross from the left, would present the Jamaican with an opportunity she wasn’t about to pass up.
She finished the chance in typically clinical fashion, glancing a header across goal and into the far corner to hand City the advantage.
With Ellen White announcing her retirement soon after, it placed a significant pressure on Shaw’s shoulders to lead the line, but it's one she nonetheless took in her stride.
Just over three months later and the Jamaican’s tally would hit 30, this time in a 3-0 Continental Cup triumph over Sunderland at the Joie Stadium.
In the space of ten games, Shaw had found the net a further ten times. That included eight goals in her past six appearances, meaning the outcome seemed inevitable when she raced onto Steph Houghton’s pass in behind the visiting defence.
The Jamaican duly did the honours, steadying herself before caressing the ball effortlessly into the Sunderland net to round off the win.
By late February Shaw’s incredible start to the 2022/23 campaign had transformed into a potentially record-breaking season.
The Jamaican was on a remarkable 17 goals from just 19 appearances in all competitions when we faced Championship leaders Bristol City in the FA Cup fifth round.
And in a devastating display of attacking football, she would add another four to her tally at the Robins High Performance Centre as City ran out 8-1 winners.
Grabbing our opening three goals, the first a smart turn and finish, the second a powerful low drive and the third a clever near-post flick, Shaw had already got herself the match ball inside 41 minutes.
However, a fourth goal after the break, when the Jamaican demonstrated her unique blend of pace and power to drive through the Bristol defence and find the net, would take her total to 40 in City colours. She’d reached it in just 49 appearances.
“Bunny Shaw is inevitable”, declared City’s commentator as the Jamaican made it 3-0 to the hosts on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign with her 31st goal of the season.
She’d reach that feat in just 30 appearances in all competitions, and the final strike of that remarkable campaign was her 50th for the Club.
A brace against Everton at the Joie Stadium, alongside a stunning individual effort from Hemp, sealed a 3-2 win for City, and secured the Jamaican’s spot in the PFA WSL Team of the Year.
She broke the deadlock when she finished off a swift City counter attack, cleverly disguising her effort to leave Toffees stopper Courtney Brosnan rooted to the spot.
And after Hemp curled home an unstoppable second off the Everton bar, Shaw would get back among the goals when she plucked the winger’s cross out of the air and fired into the far corner.
With 31 goals in 30 appearances, the forward smashed our single-season goal record, but showed no signs of slowing down in 2023/24...
United • Old Trafford • 19 November 2023
Sometimes, it doesn't matter how the ball goes in, as long as it finds its way there. Goal 54 of Shaw's remarkable century was a case in point, as she sealed a memorable Manchester derby win.
Chasing down a loose pass from Maya Le Tissier back to her goalkeeper, the forward got a boot to Earps’ attempted clearance, and wheeled away in celebration as the ball bounced into an empty net.
She’ll likely never score a goal like it again, but what a place and occasion to do it, sealing a memorable 3-1 win against our rivals at Old Trafford.
“Sometimes you find yourself in certain situations like that where I’m literally just trying to block the ball from going long and it ends up in the goal.
“We worked a lot on our pressing so to see it pay off, especially in that game, helped my confidence as well.”
City came into the game with a point to prove, having lost our last two league fixtures against Arsenal and Brighton.
But after falling behind to an early penalty, the visitors put on a dominant display to deal United their first-ever Old Trafford defeat, with Shaw’s goal adding to earlier strikes from Jill Roord and Hemp.
It was also particularly sweet moment given Shaw had endured plenty of stick from the home crowd when briefly coming off with a knock moments before her strike.
Rather than shy away from that hostility, the Jamaican relished it.
“I remember we were warming up in the corner and the fans were talking a bunch of stuff and Chloe [Kelly] was like ‘I love this’ and laughing.
“That was my first time actually being there, so to hear Chloe say that she loved it gave me the pump to say ‘if I score, I’m going to celebrate’.
“It was a great game.”
Liverpool • Joie Stadium • 21 January 2024
Not content with a record-breaking haul of three WSL hat-tricks across 2023, Shaw added another match ball to her collection in a 5-1 rout of Liverpool in January 2024.
All of the Jamaican’s goals at the Joie Stadium were different, but all of equal quality.
The first, which put City 2-1 ahead, saw the forward steal possession and confidently slot home, with a powerful header through a crowd of bodies following on the stroke of half-time.
But the pick of the bunch was Shaw’s third.
After seeing her initial effort saved, the Jamaican was first to the rebound but surrounded by Liverpool defenders.
With her back to goal, and in one fluid movement, she sent an audacious backheel into the net for a third hat-trick in her last four WSL matches.
United • Etihad Stadium • 23 March 2024
Shaw couldn’t have chosen a more fitting occasion to once again write her name into City history.
Goals against Everton and Brighton meant she went into City’s Etihad derby with Manchester United level with Georgia Stanway at the top of the all-time scoring charts.
And with the hosts cruising into a two-goal lead, it was shaping up to be an afternoon that few of a City persuasion would forget in a hurry.
And Shaw would get her goal, shrugging off the attentions of Le Tissier before confidently slotting home past Earps.
It was City’s third goal of a 3-1 derby win at the Etihad Stadium, coming less than a minute into the second half.
Pace, power, a sharp touch and an ice-cool finish. It epitomised everything our number nine has become known and loved for by fans and team-mates alike.
69
Liverpool • Prenton Park • 30 March 2024
Of Bunny's first 100 goals for City, 94 came from inside the area.
But that's not to say she isn't just as dangerous from distance, as proven by her stunning strike on Merseyside just one week after becoming our record scorer.
A ferocious drive from 25 yards, it remains one of her most spectacular goals to date.
“I think that’s one of the best goals I’ve scored," she adds.
“When the ball came in, I think the touch I did between the defender made it just pop up. The way it popped up, I was never going to pass that ball.
“I was like: ‘I’m going to put my foot through this’ and as soon as it left my foot I was thinking it’s definitely going in.
“That was one of, if not the, best goal I’ve ever scored.”
76
Barcelona • Joie Stadium • 9 October 2024
A result and performance City fans certainly won't forget in a hurry.
And of course, Shaw had a huge hand in that famous 2-0 win over Barcelona, completing the scoring after Naomi Layzell's opener in front of a record Joie Stadium crowd.
Picking up Layzell's pass in behind the Barca defence, the Jamaican flicked the ball around Cata Coll and finished past the sliding Ona Batlle to seal the victory over the reigning European champions.
"I was going to take the shot early but as I lifted my head up I saw the goalkeeper already on the floor," Shaw explains.
"So, I said I was going to take my touch around her and try to put it back where it was coming from. If I'd kicked it a little bit harder the defender might have got it."
Another brilliant goal on a special night for City, and early whispers of an upcoming century were getting louder.
We'll let Bunny take centre stage for the run-in...
78
Liverpool • Anfield • 13 October 2024
“I remember that game. We were down for a while and Liverpool made it very difficult for us.
"For my first goal, we spoke about getting balls in and initially we spoke about whipping it across, but I said to Hempo just to put it in as early as possible, and I think she did really well. She’s always been good at that.
"So, when the ball was coming in, my main objective was to get it on target but also what I tried to do was put it in the direction the goalkeeper was coming from.
"For the second goal, I told Laia [Aleixandri] to play those balls in, because the space was there.
"I said: ‘When you get it and you look, once I’ve pinned the defender, try to play it to feet’, but she played it into the space. I knew where I was on the pitch and once I held up the defender, I knew the goalkeeper would eventually come.
"The only option I had, because she blocked the goal well, was to aim high. I did that and fortunately it went in and we won that game."
82
Tottenham • Etihad Stadium • 8 November 2024
"It’s funny, I remember we had a team talk and the goal was to get at them early, especially at the back.
"From the kick-off, Aoba [Fujino] was actually supposed to go. If you watch the game back, you actually hear them telling Aoba to go, but I was closer so I thought: ‘Okay I think I can nick this ball’. I got it and was away on goal.
"The earlier you score, the more it eases the team as well. You can get a better flow from the game, and I feel like I can get another one and another one and another one. The earlier you score the more you believe that more will come. That set me up for the hat-trick that day.
"Hempo was amazing that game. I’ve played with her for a long time now, going on five years almost, so I think I know her tendencies and she knows me as well.
"I always say I can close my eyes and know where Hempo’s going to cross it.
"In football sometimes you need that chemistry and to know where your team-mate is going to be, and I have that with her."
95
Arsenal • Joie Stadium • 4 October 2025
"When I look back on that game, I felt we were the better team and attacked that game with intent.
"We had the run of form but when you play a top team with top players, you have to be on your A-game and have to get it right. I think that day we definitely did.
"Kerstin [Casparij]’s been unbelievable this season. The way we’ve played this season, she’s been thriving.
"Aoba tucked in to create the space out wide, but when she played it I was thinking: ‘Who’s she playing that to?’.
"But then I saw Kerstin flying down the line out of nowhere. We’ve worked a lot this season on crossing, me and Kerstin.
"For me, I tend to go back post because I like to create the space, and if the ball goes short I can attack it, so I pulled off and the defender came with me, but Kerstin pulled it back and my ultimate goal was to put as much power on it as possible."
97
United • Etihad Stadium • 15 November 2025
Another memorable victory over our rivals at the Etihad which had Shaw's fingerprints all over it.
First, the Jamaican set up our opener in a 3-0 win when knocking the ball back into the path of Rebecca Knaak.
And she then got in on the act herself when stealing in ahead of Safia Middleton-Patel to slide Kerstin Casparij's teasing ball into an empty net.
In doing so, she claimed another impressive individual record, as the player with the most goal involvements in Manchester derby history.
She continues: "Those balls are dangerous and that was a really good one from Kerstin.
"That’s something we spoke about leading into that game, especially the manager, he was on us leading into that game: 'Early cross, early cross, get in behind the defender.'
"I watched it back in slow-motion and Kerstin actually stretches to get it in, so that was really good from her.
"It’s becoming a thing, I said to her: ‘Kerstin, we’re becoming a thing here’.
"For me, it’s just about putting the ball in the box, that’s the player I am.
"I like getting the opportunities and with the team-mates I have, I know I’m going to get that, so I need to be ready at all times."
All the talk leading up to City's WSL clash with Aston Villa at a rain-soaked Joie Stadium was about Bunny Shaw's impending century.
The visitors had in fact started the better of the two sides, with Rachel Daly inches from a tap-in before strong claims for a penalty were waved away.
But City, and Shaw, only needed one chance.
Clever play down the left saw Hemp release Miedema in behind the Villa defence, with the Jamaican finding space between the visitors' two centre-halves.
The first-time ball in was perfectly weighted from Miedema, but Shaw still had some work to do.
Allowing the ball to come across her body, the Jamaican opened up her right foot and placed a first-time effort into the far corner beyond the despairing dive of Sabrina D'Angelo.
All that hard work, the goals, the set backs, had all led to this moment.
As City's Stadium Announcer confirmed Shaw as the Club's first-ever 100-goal player, the stands erupted once again, just as they had when the ball hit the back of the net, to salute our centurion.
“It’s a really good feeling and a big milestone for me," Shaw beamed after the game.
"If you’d told me I’d have scored four goals, I’d have said no!
“But for me, coming into the game, I knew if I scored I achieved this milestone, so I was hungry and confident going out there.
“The players said they’d try their best to get me to 100, so it was a really good feeling.
“One hundred more is a push... but it’s not impossible! The more games I play, let’s see how far I can get.”
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Words by George Kelsey
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