Former Liverpool goalkeeper Fran Kitching has returned to Sheffield United ahead of the 2020/2021 season according to reports on The Blades’ official website.
The 22-year-old Maltby-born stopper initially joined the South Yorkshire club’s academy system at the age of 10 before leaving the club seven years later.
Kitching started her senior career with top flight club Chelsea. She struggled for first team opportunities with The Blues and was loaned to Watford where she really excelled in the second tier. In 2018, Kitching joined Liverpool where she has spent the last two years. She has largely been a deputy for Anke Preuss during her time at Prenton Park while she missed a chunk of last season after suffering a nasty facial injury during a training session.
It has today been reported that Kitching has returned to former club Sheffield United for the coming season. She will compete for the number one jersey alongside Becky Flaherty and Emily Batty at The Proact Stadium.
Upon re-joining The Blades, Flaherty told official club media sources “I’m really pleased to be here. 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 could make her senior debut for Sheffield United in their FA Women’s Championship opener against London City Lionesses at Princes Park next month.