Gwalia United have strengthened their squad with the signing of experienced Norwegian goalkeeper Benedicte Haaland.
The 27-year-old, who left Southampton at the end of last season, links up with manager James Thomas – a coach she previously worked with during her spell at Bristol City in the Women’s Super League.
Haaland, who was born in Ålesund, began her senior career in Norway with Arna-Bjørnar before moving to Sandviken, and has since played across Europe with spells in Switzerland, Italy, Iceland and Scotland. She enjoyed a productive period at Hibernian, making over 30 appearances and earning recognition for a derby penalty save against Hearts, before returning to England with Bristol City and then Southampton.
Thomas said the opportunity to bring Haaland to Gwalia was one the club could not turn down.
“Benni is a goalkeeper I am very familiar with from our shared time at Bristol City in the Women’s Super League, and when the opportunity was presented to us to bring Benni to Gwalia United, it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
Benni is an excellent goalkeeper with a great attitude and she brings with her valuable experience both in the domestic game in WSL/WSL2 and overseas and I am sure these qualities and experiences of the game at the higher level will add so much value to our playing group.
My recruitment goal this summer was to create a squad that has quality in all positions, but just as importantly, has competition within each position and we’ve certainly achieved that, and the signing of Benni is another big statement for us as a club.”
Haaland’s arrival continues a busy summer of recruitment for Gwalia United as they prepare for the new FA Women’s National League having already recruited previous Arsenal player Beth McGowan from Derby County, Ella Hilliard from Derby County, Daisy Ackerman and Ameliah Yarwood from Bristol Rovers, Wales International Georgia Walters from Blackburn, Adran Premier star Eliza Collie, Swindon Town’s Emily McGrogan and FAW Academy’s Emma Thomas
