Barcelona sign England centre-forward Toni Duggan
ByPA Sport
Updated 06/07/2017 at 17:45 GMT
England striker Toni Duggan believes she is joining the world's biggest club after swapping Manchester City Women for Barcelona.
Toni Duggan of Manchester City Women celebrates after the FA Women's Super League match between Manchester City Women and Chelsea Ladies FC
Image credit: Getty Images
The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal to join the Catalan giants with immediate effect after more than three years with City.
Duggan was a member of the City side which reached the Champions League semi-finals last season but hopes to go one better with Barca.
Duggan told Barca TV:
FC Barcelona, for me, is the biggest club in the world and I wanted to come here and be part of that. In England I had a lot of success and I am looking forward to more success. I think there is still one trophy missing in the cabinet for me and, when I spoke to Barcelona, their ambition was to win the Champions League. It matched my ambition and (when) you put those two things together it's the perfect move for myself.
She added on Sky Sports News: "I have won everything I wanted to in England. This is the next move for me and I am looking forward to it."
Duggan leaves behind one club who have made giant strides in the women's game in recent years to join another showing significant ambition.
Like City, Barca reached the last four of the Champions League last term while they also finished second in their domestic league.
Duggan, formerly of Everton, was one of City's headline signings after they joined WSL in 2013. She scored 31 goals in 74 appearances for the club and helped them to the title in 2016. She also won the FA Cup earlier this year and enjoyed two Continental Cup successes.
On the international front she has scored 15 goals for England and won 47 caps. After posing for photographs and being interviewed by Barcelona's in-house media team, she has now linked up with the England squad preparing for this summer's European Championship.
Duggan said:
Barca have grown a lot in recent years, particularly in women's football. I am very confident that together we can take it to the next level. The club have made their intentions very clear with their signings over the years.
The association with Barca's famous men's side - and one current player in particular - also proved alluring.
Duggan said: "I like Luis Suarez and his style of play. I'm from Liverpool and grew up as a Liverpool fan so he has obviously been a great role model for me.
"His style of play is like he's just playing with his mates in the streets sometimes. I love that style and that's the way I try to be too. Hopefully I can bring to the women's team what he's brought to the men's team."
A statement from City read: "All at Manchester City thank Toni for her contribution over the past three years and wish her the best of luck with her new experience."
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