Manchester United have confirmed to day that their application to the FA to establish a professional women’s team in the FA Women’s Championship has been approved.

The team will be called ‘Manchester United Women’ and will be based at The Cliff, our former training ground, once redevelopment work has been completed.

United got rid of their women’s team in 2005 when the Glazers took over but have made a U-turn and opted to embrace women’s football.

Executive Vice Chairman, Ed Woodward, has spoken of his happiness over the application going through.

The board is delighted that the FA has approved the application. The new women’s team will build on the success of the Girls’ Regional Talent Club and have the same philosophy as all Manchester United sides, creating a pathway from academy to first team.

We will be making some exciting announcements in the coming days and weeks. Starting a professional team from scratch is challenging but rewarding and we will make every effort to provide the support and experience for the new women’s team to be successful and to uphold the fine traditions of our great club.