When Khiara Keating walked out of Manchester City and into Liverpool's arms, City were left dangerously thin between the sticks. Anna Moorhouse is the answer — a practical one, not a glamorous one.
The 31-year-old England international arrives on a short-term loan from Orlando Pride, running until January 2027. She was part of Sarina Wiegman's Euros-winning squad this summer, though she didn't get on the pitch during the tournament. Two senior caps, two clean sheets — she's reliable when called upon, which is exactly what City need in a number two.
What she's walking into — and what she's walking away from
Ayaka Yamashita isn't going anywhere. The Japanese goalkeeper has been City's undisputed first choice for a while now, and Moorhouse's role will almost certainly be to cover, not compete. That's not a slight — it's the reality of the situation, and Moorhouse seems clear-eyed about it. "When a club like Manchester City calls, you have to answer," she told club media. Hard to argue with that logic.
The Orlando exit is a little more complicated. Moorhouse was part of the Pride's historic 2024 NWSL double — Championship and Shield, with 13 clean sheets — but this season has been rough. Thirty-one goals conceded in 20 games, a drop from the starting XI. The timing of this loan isn't coincidence.
Orlando, sitting five points outside the playoff places, framed it as an act of goodwill. Maybe. But shipping out a goalkeeper whose form has dipped while maintaining depth in the position isn't exactly a sacrifice.
The Echegini miss adds context
City wanted more. They chased PSG midfielder Jennifer Echegini through several failed bids, only to pull out when PSG held firm at £500,000. With Vivianne Miedema picking up a knee injury — unrelated to her previous ACL issue — that pursuit made sense. It didn't land.
So the summer ends with Beth Mead, Niamh Charles, young right back Carlotta Wamser, and now Moorhouse as the notable arrivals. For a side defending the WSL title and returning to European football, that's a quieter window than the ambition of the club might suggest. City's odds to retain the title just got a little more interesting — not in their favour.
Moorhouse's loan at least sorts the goalkeeping cover. With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon and a full European campaign ahead, City couldn't afford to leave Yamashita without a credible backup.
