Left-sided full-back Demi Stokes joined City from the South Florida Bulls in January 2015, having started her senior career with Sunderland aged just 16.

She followed in the footsteps of Lucy Bronze and Jennifer Beattie in making the move to Manchester, as Nick Cushing continued to strengthen his side ahead of the new season.

Eager to embark on a new challenge and a new chapter in her life, Stokes was thrilled to join a club she felt is leading the way in encouraging the rise of women's football.

Born in South Shields, she signed for Sunderland's youth team at the age of eight and went on to make her senior debut in 2007. She played a part in the side that secured the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division and reached the final of the FA Women's Cup in 2009 - a feat she still regards as a career highlight.

She remained at the North East outfit before accepting a four-year scholarship to the University of South Florida in 2011. The following year, she made 13 appearances for Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps before continuing her career with her college side.

The youngster tasted success on the international stage, having lifted the 2009 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship alongside Bronze, Toni Duggan and Isobel Christiansen. She also captained Great Britain to a gold medal in the 2013 Summer Universiade in Russia.

Stokes has been an integral part of City's successes over recent years and will represent England at the 2019 World Cup.