The New Saints Women are delighted to announce the signing of defender Natasha Shepley.

The 22-year-old centre-back joins the Saints following two seasons with Cheadle Town Stingers, where she established herself as a commanding presence at the heart of the defence.

After starting her career at grassroots level, Shepley developed through the academy ranks at Derby County and Manchester City before stepping into senior football with Leek Town, where she spent two seasons prior to her move to Cheadle.

Speaking after putting pen to paper at Park Hall, Shepley said: “I’m thrilled to join The New Saints and take the next step in my career. This is a fantastic opportunity to test myself at a higher level and be part of an ambitious club. I can’t wait to get started, meet my new teammates, and contribute to the team’s success.”

The experienced defender will add quality, leadership and defensive solidity to the Saints’ backline for the remainder of the campaign, and head coach Kieran Lee-Birch was pleased to get the deal over the line.

“We’re delighted to have secured Tash’s signature,” he said. “She’s a brave defender who is comfortable in possession and will bring extra leadership to our backline. Her experience and character will be invaluable to the squad, and we’re excited to see her develop further with us as we continue our push this season.”

The New Saints are pleased to welcome Natasha to Park Hall and look forward to her contributions in the months ahead.