Louise McDaniel signs
BURNLEY FC Women have announced the arrival of Northern Ireland internationals Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel from Cliftonville.
Cliftonville Football Club offered thanks and best wishes to both players.
The duo move following a season in which they played key roles in the treble trophy triumph that saw Cliftonville Ladies lift the VBet League Cup and Electric Ireland Irish Cup either side of an invincible Sports Direct Premiership campaign in which John McGrady’s side won 100% of their League games.
McDaniel, who joined the Reds from Heart of Midlothian in the summer of 2021, also claimed the Goal of the Season accolade when her Irish Cup Final strike against Lisburn Rangers came out on top of our Ladies Supporters’ Club vote.
Fellow Northern Ireland international Maxwell, who netted an historic Champions League goal against BIIK Kazygurt in September 2023, was recently named Player of the Year by the NI Professional Footballers’ Association and, as both players embark upon a new start in the English National League North, they depart with the sincere gratitude of everyone at Solitude for their stellar contributions in a Red shirt.
Maxwell has signed a permanent contract with the Clarets and links up with her international teammate Brenna McPartlan in Lancashire.
Having put pen to paper, she said: “I’m excited to be here!
“It’s a very competitive league and it’s a big step for me, but from what I’ve seen of the Club it’s very professional and I know a few of the players from my time in the Championship last season, as well as Brenna McPartlan from Northern Ireland duty.
“I’m here to help with goals and assists but ultimately, the most important thing is that the team keeps getting results.”
Maxwell came through the Academy system at Glentoran and made her senior debut for ‘the Glens’ in October 2019, before sealing a move to Cliftonville in 2021.
Her first spell at the Belfast-based club was laden with success both personally and as a team, with the Reds winning the country’s top division in 2022 and reaching four finals in the 2023 season.
A goal in the County Antrim Cup final victory over Crusaders was one of 14 in 2023, and her attacking contributions saw her win the Premier Division Player of the Year Award.
This isn’t the 22-year-old’s first taste of English football, as she spent the first half of the 2023/24 season at Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Maxwell is a 16-cap Northern Ireland international and made her debut for the Green and White Army against Iceland in 2020.
A first senior international goal came in a Nations League match against Hungary in October 2023 and she followed that up with another strike against Albania in the following match.
Head Coach Rebecca Sawiuk added: “When Danielle became available it was an easy decision to bring her into our talented squad here at Burnley.
“She is a bright young talent in the women’s game and I’m sure she can come here and help us achieve our goals.
“Alongside all of our other new signings she had has settled in quickly and well, and It’s been exciting to see her attacking flair in training.”
Maxwell will wear the number 39 shirt for the Clarets.
A central midfielder by trade, McDaniel said: “I’m happy to be here and can’t wait to get started.
“It’s an exciting time at the club with some clear goals in mind and they align with my own ambitions, so I thought it was a really good fit.
“I spoke to Brenna McPartlan too and she told me everything about the club. Having been here for a few days now it has surpassed my expectations.”
McDaniel recalls playing football ever since she was five or six and joined Linfield Ladies at the age of 14 before her first spell at Cliftonville.
At 19 she headed across the Irish Sea to attend university and continued her footballing career with Blackburn Rovers and later Aberdeen.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic then hit and McDaniel, who is now 24, returned to Northern Ireland and has played for Cliftonville ever since.
McDaniel’s form with the Reds has earned her international recognition over the years and the midfielder was the first Northern Ireland women’s player to score at Windsor Park, netting in a 4-0 victory over Latvia in 2021.
The 24-year-old was also part of Kenny Shiels’ Euro 2022 squad and has worked her way into current manager Tanya Oxtoby’s plans, featuring in Euro qualifiers last year.
Head Coach Rebecca Sawiuk added: “We have been in dialogue with Louise for some time now and I’m really pleased she has chosen us as her next footballing opportunity.
“She has high standards, works hard, and is an exciting player with the ball who will create opportunities for us.
“Her experiences both at club level and internationally with Northern Ireland will be important for us as we look to evolve.”
McDaniel will wear the number 38 shirt for the remainder of the season.
