Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw has been awarded the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Women’s Footballer of the Year for the second time.

The 29-year-old Jamaican international is on course to claim her third straight Women’s Super League (WSL) Golden Boot, having netted 19 goals in 21 appearances this season. With just one league match remaining for newly crowned champions City, Shaw needs just one more goal to become the first player in WSL history to score 20 or more goals in three separate campaigns.

Shaw previously won the FWA award for the 2023-24 season. This year, she secured a landslide victory over Arsenal striker Alessia Russo, the 2024-25 winner, with Chelsea forward Lauren James finishing third.

However, Shaw is expected to leave City this summer after contract negotiations broke down. Chelsea, the dominant force before City’s recent title win, are the frontrunners to sign her. Reports indicate the Blues have offered at least one additional year on a contract compared to City, with potential wages of up to £1 million per year.

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has not commented directly on Shaw but confirmed on Thursday that signing a number nine is a top priority. Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz said on Friday: “I still hope she signs a new contract with City, but that’s a discussion for the player and the club. Right now, the most important thing is to enjoy having her here and compete together.”

Shaw and City face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday (15:30 BST), with the winner advancing to face either Liverpool or Brighton at Wembley on 31 May.

Shaw’s prolific scoring has established her as one of the world’s elite strikers, attracting significant interest this summer. With her contract expiring, Chelsea are favorites to secure a free transfer, which would be a major blow for City given her match-winning ability and the fear she instills in opponents.

In previous seasons, City’s title hopes often faltered when Shaw was injured, but this term she has started all 21 WSL matches. Highlights include a hat-trick against Tottenham in March and a four-goal haul against Aston Villa in December.

Teammate Sam Coffey described Shaw as “a player in a video game” due to her dominance and scoring ease. If Shaw moves to Chelsea and competes in the Women’s Champions League next season, her achievements may gain greater global recognition, as she has been overlooked in previous Ballon d’Or awards.