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London City Lionesses are delighted to announce Mollie Rouse has signed with the club ahead of the upcoming 2021/22 season.
Rouse joins the Pride from Lewes F.C. Women in what is set to be a highly anticipated upcoming FA Women’s Championship season. Rouse signed for Lewes in the January 2021 transfer window. She spent the past 2020/21 season with the Rooks, where she featured in eight matches with eight starts.
The Stratford-upon-Avon born midfielder started out with Aston Villa Centre of Excellence moving through the ranks to the First team, where she competed in what was formerly known as the FA WSL Super League 2. Rouse helped lead her U17 squad to an undefeated championship in the 2014/15 season in the Centre of Excellence League. She also helped guide her team to finish runner-up in the 2015 FA Youth Cup.
Rouse headed to the United States in 2017 to play Division 1 football for University of Louisville until 2018. Despite arriving late due to National Team duties, Rouse played in 15 games making 10 stars for the Louisville Cardinals. She scored two goals during her time at the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) school. She also had the game-winning assist in Louisville’s 2-1 win over Clemson University, and, was named a Red and Black Scholar-Athlete honoree.
At University of Central Florida, Rouse played in the 110-minute overtime match against George Mason University. She also had one goal and assist during the 2019 season.
Rouse international experience also comes from her time playing for England where she has represented her country from a U15 to a U21 level. Rouse had four caps and two goals when she was with the U15 squad. She later added 23 more caps along with two goals with the U17 team, where they came in fourth place in the 2013 European Championships. The squad also made a group stage appearance in the 2015 European Championship. Her five goals helped England win the 2016 Northern Ireland International Cup and the following year won the 2017 Elite Round Championship.
Head Coach Melissa Phillips shared her thoughts on Rouse and said, "Mollie is an exceptionally driven player with quality experiences at the highest level. She’s a true box to box midfielder; defensively sound and equally threatening in the attack with her range of passing. Her ambitions match that of the club’s and we are delighted to have her at London City."
Rouse spoke about joining the Pride and said, “After conversations with the staff and girls, it was evident this was a club with huge ambition. I knew right away it would be an environment where I will be challenged and encourage to develop on and off the pitch. I am really excited to get going!”