Sheffield United Women recruit Joy Ralph from Shamrock Rovers

Sheffield United Women have signed one of the League of Ireland’s brightest young talents after agreeing an undisclosed fee with Shamrock Rovers for forward Joy Ralph.

The 19-year-old has penned a one-year deal with an option for a further year through to 2027 with the Blades, and arrives in England after a successful few years in Ireland where the striker has also represented the Republic’s U-19s team.

Ralph originally represented DLR Waves, scoring twice on her league debut as a 16-year-old back in 2022, joining Rovers a year later where she also scored on her debut in the FAI Cup.

The highly rated forward has scored 17 goals during her three-and-a-half seasons in Ireland’s top division, all as a teenager, and at the end of last season was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as being named in the PFA Ireland Women’s Premier Division Team of the Year, ending the 2024 season with eight league goals.

Ralph is looking forward to her new challenge taking a step into the professional game for the first time: “I’m absolutely buzzing. From being a young child, I’ve always wanted to play professionally in England and to get this opportunity, I’m really, really grateful for it.”

Head coach Ash Thompson commented: “We’ve been monitoring Joy closely for some time now and really pleased to have been able to get the deal done ahead of the new season. She’s a tenacious and exciting young forward who has been a proven goal scorer in Ireland for a number of seasons now, and we only see her adding more competition and quality to our attacking options.”