After coming to Manchester United in the summer of 2024, Celin Bizet Ildhusøy has defied all expectations from everybody besides herself in 2024/25. The Norwegian winger moved from North London to Manchester for a fee of £60,000 and has not looked back since.
From Oslo to Manchester
Bizet’s footballing journey began in her native Norway, where her technical ability and work ethic made her stand out from a young age. After spells with Vålerenga and Paris Saint-Germain, she joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2022 and began to show signs of growing in the English game. However, it is at Manchester United that Bizet has truly blossomed – both in confidence and contribution. Her signing curtailed a busy summer for the Red Devils last summer, after key departures for Mary Earps, Lucia Garcia, Nikita Parris, Katie Zelem and Irene Guerrero. From the six signings who arrived at Leigh Sports Village in the same summer, Bizet’s transfer went under the radar. Yet her signing can only be rivalled by the success of Elisabeth Terland, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Sliding Doors and Bizet’s Breakthrough
Bizet combines old-school wing play with modern versatility, and a knack for scoring wonder goals. The Norwegian is comfortable cutting inside or hugging the touchline. She has been relentless in her work-rate for the team, intricate movement and decision-making in key areas.
Such description can be mirrored to former United legend David Beckham, who also plied his trade on the right-wing position at Old Trafford between 1992 and 2003. Bizet was just 2 years old by the time that Becks left for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Celin’s deliveries from wide positions have earnt her a reputation in her debut season for their scary precision, bending it like Becks, often putting it on a plate of dreams for Terland and the rest. Her energy off the ball, pressing and tracking back, also makes her indispensable in both attack and defence.
When first arriving at United, Bizet would not have expected to have gained the starting spot in the team as quickly as she has. The 23-year-old has been aided by external circumstances to her competitor on the right, Geyse.
The Brazilian international was granted compassionate leave in January 2025 following the death of her brother. Her agent, Luis Filipe Silva, had publicly accused Manchester United and Marc Skinner of trying to loan the player out whilst she was in Brazil attending the funeral of her brother. By the time Geyse was back after missing 4 games in January and February, Bizet’s quality had established her as a starter for Skinner’s side. For Geyse, she was loaned out to Gotham FC for the remainder of the season.
Numbers Don’t Lie
By the time that Geyse was loaned out in March 2025, Bizet was flying on the football pitch and had already trumped her own goal contributions from 2023/24. Across 20 games, Bizet has scored 4 goals and assisted 7 times in 20 games for United. In comparison, she had 4 goals and 2 assists for Tottenham in 29 games in her last season at Spurs. The raw output speaks volumes, but it’s the timing of her contributions, both goals and assists, that have broken deadlocks or added to thumping’s that have elevated her importance to Skinner’s side in their pursuit for Champions League qualification after missing out last season.
Assist Queen to United’s Goal Machine
Last season’s second-highest scorer in the WSL, Elisabeth Terland, joined the Red Devils last summer from Brighton & Hove Albion, replacing the goal-scoring void left by Alessia Russo. Despite winning the FA Cup in 2024, United had struggled to replicate their previous domestic success in the 2023/24 campaign, largely due to a lack of firepower up front. Terland’s arrival has reignited their attacking threat, and she’s repaid the faith with a stream of goals.
However, as readers of The Book of Mormon will tell you, every hero needs a sidekick. Bizet has become Terland’s primary supplier, much to the envy of United’s men’s team which has struggled all season to service Rasmus Højlund. At Leigh Sports Village, that’s been no problem. Even on international duty with Norway, the ‘wo-mance‘ between the two has continued. In February, Bizet set up Terland in a crucial 2-1 win over Switzerland. Elsewhere for United, the picturesque moment of Bizet tying Terland’s shoelace in their win against Aston Villa is a moment captured that illustrates where United’s fortunes have laid.
Celin Bizet Ildhusøy might not have been the headline signing of the summer, but she’s become the heartbeat of this Manchester United side in what was meant to be a transitional season for the team. Her chemistry with Terland, her technical output, and her eye for the decisive moment have made her one of the league’s most valuable breakout stars.
And if this is only the beginning, the ceiling for both her and this young United side just keeps getting higher.
