Goalkeeper Fran Kitching returns to Sheffield United Women after leaving Liverpool

The 22 year-old has joined from Liverpool ahead of the FA Championship 2020/21 season.

In total, she made 17 appearances across her two seasons in Merseyside as the Reds suffered relegation from the top flight last season.

After graduating from United’s academy she joined Women’s Super League side Chelsea in 2015.

After leaving Chelsea in 2018, Kitching briefly returned to the Blades before receiving an offer to join Liverpool in the FA WSL, where she spent the past two seasons.

Kitching joins goalkeepers Becky Flaherty and Emily Batty in the goalkeeping ranks at the Blades ahead of the new 2020-21 season.

"I'm really pleased to be here,” she said. “It's been a long time away obviously with the pandemic, but it's just really good to be back playing and training again and I'm really looking forward to the new season.

"It's really nice to be back. In some ways it feels like nothing has changed, but then it feels like everything's changed, it's a weird feeling.

"My dad is a huge Blade and I know from going to games with him it's a family club. I know this city, I grew up just outside and to come back to the club where I started is a really special feeling."

Kitching will be part of the squad as the Blades travel to London City Lionesses on Sunday, September 6, on the opening day of the FA Women's Championship season.