Club/Country: Manchester United/Netherlands
Age: 26
Position: Midfielder

Dutch fans call Groenen the "vacuum cleaner" because she does the job no one likes to do: in central midfield, that means putting in the graft, tackling anything that moves and logging the miles needed to give her teams a platform for success.

On 22 May 2019, it was announced Groenen had signed a contract with Manchester United ahead of the 2019–20 season. In doing so, she became the team's first overseas signing with the team has formed a year earlier consisting of all British players.

Groenen made her debut for Manchester United against Manchester City in the FA WSL on 7 September 2019, a 1–0 loss in the inaugural Manchester derby.

She previously played for German clubs SGS Essen, FCR 2001 Duisburg and FFC Frankfurt, as well as for Chelsea in the English FA WSL.

Groenen was part of the Dutch team that won the UEFA Women's Euro 2017. She played in all matches and was named in the 2017 UEFA Team of the Tournament.

In April 2019, Groenen was selected for her first World Cup. She started every game at the tournament and scored the only goal in extra-time of the 1–0 semi-final victory over Sweden to help the team reach their first World Cup final. The Netherlands eventually lost the final to the United States.


She is a mastermind on the pitch and, at 26, has the soccer world at her feet. She was the missing link for Manchester United and since her arrival in May 2019, she's contributed in every way, including on the scoresheet.


Source: ESPN