Manchester United Women has signed Canada defender Jayde Riviere to a contract that runs until the end of the 2024-25 season.

Riviere said: “I am a huge Manchester United fan, so this is a dream come true for me to sign here.

“I’m really looking forward to developing and learning at this huge football club, and I can’t wait to use all my playing attributes to help us achieve our joint goals on the pitch.”

United’s head coach Marc Skinner said: “Jayde is an exciting young player who matches the long-term version of Manchester United, and our continued belief in nurturing the best young talent in the game.

“We have been monitoring Jayde for a long time and believe she has the attributes to become an excellent footballer.

“We are delighted she has signed her first professional contract with us and look forward to seeing the quality she will add to the group.”

Jayde Yuk Fun Riviere was born in Toronto, January 22, 2001. Her father Tony Riviere was born in Dominica and her Emily Lui was born in Hong Kong.

She started playing club soccer for West Rouge SC, Scarborough, at the age of four, later representing Pickering SC before moving to

Markham SC aged 13. Riviere played college soccer at the University of Michigan. 

Riviere represented Canada at multiple youth levels before earning her first senior cap in 2017 in the second of the two games, entering as a 71st-minute substitute for Adriana Leon in a 3–1 defeat to the United States. She started her first match for the senior team on April 8, 2019, and assisted both goals in a 2–1 friendly win against Nigeria.

In May 2019, she was named to the roster for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. She scored her first goal for the senior team against Saint Kitts and Nevis during the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.

She won a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She entered the tournament as unused substitute for the opening game, but then replaced Allysha Chapman as starter in the remaining group stage matches, beating Chile and drawing with Great Britain. Having picked up a yellow card against Brazil in the quarter-final, Riviere was suspended on yellow card accumulation for the semi-final against the United States but returned for the gold medal match, substituting on during overtime as Canada won gold in a penalty shootout victory over Sweden.

To date Riviere has 36 caps for Canada, and is considered to be a forward-thinking right-back and a very promising talent.

Manchester United are currently second in the Women’s Super League — three points behind leaders Chelsea, with a game in hand — and are next in action at Reading on Sunday.