Iman Benei: The young Manchester City forward has made a big impact since his summer move – her form could be key to WSL title chances | Soccer News

Iman Benei has come a long way since he was forced to travel three hours to attend a training session in his native Switzerland at the age of 12.

The 19-year-old, who was outstanding at last summer’s Euros, is now the latest breakout star in the Women’s Super League, helping Manchester City move one point ahead of Chelsea at the top of the table.

Andrii Jegrats’ side have won each of their last seven league games, their longest winning streak since 2023. Swiss youngster Benay became a key contributor sooner than perhaps expected following injuries to Kerorin and Lauren Hemp in the first half of the season.

Her performance in Switzerland, which hosted the Euros this summer, suggested she was ready. Although she may have been surprised by how easily she has adapted to the league’s standards, Jegratz is clearly convinced of her talent, highlighting her “calmness and confidence” of late.

He further raised expectations by saying, “She and I both need to find a way to get more out of her.”

Speaking to Benenny herself at City’s training ground this week, she shows a calmness and poise far beyond her teenage years. She tells how she learned to “live like a professional” from the age of 12 and that her desire to make soccer a career ever since was due to her own determination.

“When I was 12 years old, I was in an academy in Switzerland, living like a professional,” she says. “That’s when I thought, ‘This is the journey of a professional player.’ That’s when I knew that’s what I wanted.

“My dad knows everything about soccer and what you have to do to be a professional. In a way, it was easy. He told me I needed to make sacrifices, and that’s really important.”

Benay comes from a soccer background. Her father and aunt played professionally, and her older brother was a winger for Famalicão in the Primeira Liga, and the sibling rivalry was a big part of her early drive for success. “When I was younger, we had a competition and he pushed me,” she says of her brother Romeo.

Despite his relatively reserved demeanor, Benay’s playstyle is best described by boldness. Shortlisted for the 2025 Golden Girl Award, won by Michel Agyeman, she has already performed well in key moments, scoring in a 3-2 win over Arsenal and scoring the equalizer in City’s come-from-behind victory over Liverpool in October.

She can wiggle her way out of tight spaces with incredible ease. It’s what Jeglertz relies on to maintain control in the game. “It was easy to integrate,” she continues. “When I signed the contract, I thought, ‘I’ll have a little time,’ but it turned out to be more than that.” Benay is City’s top scorer in the entire league with three goal contributions in four starts.

It’s hard to make a difference on a team with so much offensive talent. The Swiss international has done it in a short period of time and added even more versatility. City’s forwards have found the net 15 times in total this season, at least six more than any other team’s attackers.

“We have started the season very well and have a good squad that we can afford to miss, but that means other players are important,” she said of City’s depth. “This is important if you want to win a championship.” She’s right.

Manchester City won seven of their opening eight games, becoming the first team other than Chelsea to start a matchday as WSL leaders since the penultimate weekend of the 2023-24 season. That was 78 weeks ago. Against this backdrop, Saturday’s Manchester derby becomes all the more important. Conceding a point will inevitably give Chelsea momentum back.

Benay will play a key role in keeping City’s biggest rivals at bay. And for similar reasons, City’s title hopes will continue on track.

Follow Saturday’s Etihad Airways coverage of Man City v Man United with our dedicated live blog on the web and app. Kickoff at 1:30 p.m.