Lucy Newell

Lucy May Newell (born 2 October 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League 2 club Crystal Palace, on loan from Women's Super League club Manchester United.

Newell played on loan for WSL 2 sides Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers, having begun her senior career at National League North club West Bromwich Albion.

Youth career Newell joined West Bromwich Albion aged nine.

As a track runner for Shrewsbury Athletic Club she broke the club record for 1500 meters in under-13s competition and receiving an award from the chairman.

Club career

Manchester United Newell signed to the Manchester United Academy in 2023. She remained on dual registration with United while playing in the National League North for West Bromwich Albion in the 2023–24 season. At the end of the season, Newell was awarded the Women’s Academy Players’ Player of the Year by Manchester United.

In October 2024, she signed her first professional contract with Women's Super League club Manchester United on her 18th birthday. With lack of playing time at United, in January 2025 Newell joined Blackburn Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season where she made 10 appearances. On 16 February, she headed in her only goal for Rovers in a 3–2 defeat to Durham.

On 21 August 2025, Newell joined Women's Super League 2 club Birmingham City on loan for the 2025–26 season. On 14 January 2026 she was recalled to Manchester United having made four appearances for City. On 23 January 2026, Crystal Palace announced that Newell was joining them on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

International career Newell has represented and captained England at international youth level. and started in the 1–1 draw match with France. England were then knocked out in the semi-final by Spain in a 3–1 defeat. The following year, representing the England under-19s, she played in the 2024 UEFA U19 Championship with the youth team again being knocked out by Spain, in a semi-final defeat with the same scoreline.

In the 2025 UEFA U19 Championship in June, she played all 90 minutes in the three group stage matches as a centre-back, with England qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Personal life In August 2018, aged 11, Newell held a cake sale raising funds for the charity Age UK.