The Netherlands player has often been described as one of the WSL’s top full-backs by her club manager Gareth Taylor.

She took time to settle, competing for game time in her first six months, before becoming a regular as City mounted a WSL title challenge last season.

“I feel like City is the place to be. Gareth Taylor helps me so much and holds me to high standards,” added Casparij.

“That works out for me. The combination of the aspiration I have, and the club supporting me with that, is just really good.”

Having met her partner in Manchester, as well as enjoying her football, Casparij says she wanted to “stay at home a little while longer”.

“Whenever I go away with the national team and they ask me about leaving, I say ‘I’m going home, I’m going to Manchester’,” she said.

“To be able to have that stability, to not have to move and to stay here, I think is really special.

“The club is very warm. There are a lot of very good people. They have done a good job at bringing great people in to create a family environment.

“In the city, the people are just really nice up here. I heard it’s a northern thing!”