Manchester United are finalising a deal to sign Mexican international Rebeca Bernal from NWSL side Washington Spirit, The Cutback can reveal.
Sources have informed The Cutback that United are confident of securing the versatile defender before the WSL transfer deadline closes on Thursday.
Bernal missed the Spirit’s 1-0 win over Bay FC on Sunday, and was listed as an “excused absence” in the club’s availability report. Her current contract with the Spirit runs through December 2027.
The 28-year-old has been a key contributor for the Spirit since joining the club in February 2025. She has featured in 41 of the club’s 47 league matches in that time.
Over the past two seasons, Bernal has helped the Spirit finish second in the table, earn a runners-up medal in the 2025 NWSL Championship as well as a runners-up medal in the 2025-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup.
Throughout her career, Bernal has been lauded for her versatility and tactical flexibility. She is a hybrid defensive midfielder/centre-back, often switching between the positions from match to match or even within 90 minutes. In her first season with the Spirit, she was mostly a centre-back, while this season she has been used more as an anchor in the midfield.
Over the last 10 years, Bernal has made 65 appearances for Mexico and scored seven goals. She was part of the Mexico team that won a gold medal for the first time in their history at the Pan American Games, defeating Chile 1-0 in the gold medal match. Bernal scored the winning goal in that final.
Before signing with the Spirit, Bernal rose to prominence as the leader and lynchpin of C.F. Monterrey in Liga MX Femenil. She played over 250 games for Rayadas and lifted the Mexican title four times. Despite her defensive duties, she also scored 66 goals for Rayadas as a penalty and set-piece specialist.
Manchester United recently announced the signing of Swedish winger Monica Jusu Bah from BK Hacken, for a fee understood to be around £385,000. Adding to the two signings made earlier in the window, Janina Leitzig and Andrea Medina.
Centre-back has been a target position for United this summer, with the departures of Millie Turner and Gabby George.
This week, The Cutback also revealed that former Hearts assistant coach Gavin Beith is set to join United’s coaching staff. Beith was assistant to United boss Eva Olid during Hearts’ 2023-24 season.
His other coaching roles have included time within the Scottish national youth teams and a joint head coach stint with Aberdeen Women from 2021 to 2023.
The Cutback understands that assistant coach Carl Green is set to leave the club following Marc Skinner’s departure earlier this month. Green joined the club in August 2021, having worked closely with Skinner at Orlando Pride.
