Georgia Stanway explains decision to leave Man City for Bayern Munich
By Ali Rampling
Georgia Stanway has revealed she opted to move to Bayern Munich to put herself out of her comfort zone, after admitting she felt at a 'standstill' during her final year at Manchester City.
The 23-year-old joined the Bundesliga outfit in the 2022 summer transfer window, bringing an end to her seven-year stay at City.
English players trying their hand abroad has always been a trend in the women's game, with the United States traditionally the most popular destination. More players have moved to Europe in recent seasons, with the likes of Alex Greenwood and Nikita Parris previously plying their trade at Lyon, while Lucy Bronze and Toni Duggan have both had spells in Spain.
However, Stanway is the only member of the Lionesses' Euro 2022 winning squad to be currently playing her domestic football in Germany.
"I was in a situation where I wanted to put myself out of my comfort zone, challenge myself and pose the question: 'how good could I be?'" Stanway to Sky Sports.
"The decision for me wasn't as hard as what it may have seemed because I knew I was set to go somewhere else to try something new. I had to make sure this was the right place for me on and off the field and so far it's lived up to expectations."
Stanway had spent the entirety of her professional career at Man City, and was one of seven senior players to depart the club this summer.
A number eight by trade, the midfielder was frequently deployed out of position as City contended with a multitude of injury problems at the start of the 2021/22 campaign. Stanway admitted she didn't enjoy the 'versatile' label, and after spending such a large chunk of her career at City, was keen to freshen things up.
"If I'm being honest, over the last 15-18 months at Manchester City I was at a standstill," she added.
"I was getting played in any position, I wasn't able to make a position my own. I was classed as 'versatile', which isn't something I wanted to be. You know me, I'll do a job for the team and go out there wholeheartedly and do whatever the team needs me to do but I just wasn't as happy as I knew I could be.
"I wanted to put myself in a position where I didn't know how good I could be. At City I was in a comfortable position, I was turning up to training every day for seven years and I just wanted a change."