Norwich City women sign first professional players

Ellie Bishop is from Loddon in Norfolk and was the first signing to be revealed

Norwich City women have announced the signing of the club's first professional players.

Ellie Bishop, Eloise King, Eloise Hall and Ceri Flye have all signed deals which mean they will be the first female players to be paid by the Canaries.

In May, the club's head of women's football Flo Allen said some of the players would be offered contracts and they hope to offer professional terms to all players in the future.

Norfolk-born defender Bishop was the first player to be announced, telling BBC Radio Norfolk: "We're all Norwich fans, my friends and family, so it's amazing really."

'I was a bit shocked'

Bishop, 20, returned to City last season following spells with Watford and Tottenham Hotspur's academy.

She said it was a pleasant surprise to be the first to be revealed, with the club inviting her family to the training ground to be part of her contract signing.

"I was a bit shocked and didn't really say too much when I was told," Bishop said. "I didn't expect it as you never know with football, it's all about opinions.

"We brought grandad along to the signing experience and I've never seen him so quiet. He was taking it all in, it was really sweet."

Norwich have finished second in the FA Women's National League Division One South East for two seasons running and just missed out on promotion both times.

Next season will see changes in the league structure which mean second-placed teams enter a promotion play-off.

Eloise Hall helped Bournemouth to promotion last season

Striker Hall has joined from AFC Bournemouth, where she scored six goals in 13 appearances last season. She was part of the Cherries side who achieved promotion to the Southern Premier Division during the 2024-25 campaign.

The 18-year-old told the club website: "I love the city. I've had chats with Flo Allen and (head coach) Andy Cook; I love their morals.

"We perfectly align and I just can't wait to get started. I want to score as many goals as I can. I'm a goalscorer and that's what I love to do."

Eloise King previously played for Ipswich Town

King has signed as a free agent after playing for Hashtag United during the 2024-25 season.

The 22-year-old midfielder previously made nearly 100 appearances for Ipswich Town and represented England at under-19 level.

Ceri Flye spent eight years at Cambridge City before joining Norwich in 2022

On signing her contract, defender Flye told the club website: "It's a real proud moment for me and my family. Now I can just spend more time at the football ground progressing my game."

Flye, 22, joined the Canaries in 2022 and has been a regular at the heart of the defence.