Manchester United Women have confirmed that Safia Middleton-Patel and Jess Simpson have both been signed up to professional contracts.

Middleton-Patel, who has been at the club since the age of 15, and Simpson (who first joined aged 11), were both part of United’s Under 21 team that won the WSL Academy League and cup last year.

Manager Marc Skinner has promoted both players to the senior setup this season, with Simpson having featured in a friendly against Birkirkara FC earlier this month.

She is a defender, and it will be tough for her to break into a side that has only conceded six times in 11 WSL fixtures so far this season, with the Red Devils currently above Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City in the table.

Middleton-Patel, meanwhile, is a goalkeeper and she has an ever more difficult task on her hands getting any game time. There are three other keepers currently ahead of her in the pecking order, with Mary Earps, Emily Ramsay and Sophie Baggaley all vying for a starting spot.