CHARLOTTE Harris has accepted a one-year deal to sign with Manchester City Women’s Development Team.

Harris, 16, will join up with the side for pre-season in July and in that time will study history, Spanish and law alongside the football at Connell College in Manchester.

Harris said: “It has been a long wait, when I first went up in February it has been a while.

“It has been nerve-wracking finding out what is going on and not knowing what is going on so it was a big relief and obviously it was very exciting when I found out that I finally got the place.”

“It was a shock but a good shock. It was amazing.”

It came about after her father approached a number of clubs at the turn of the year and Manchester City were the first club to get back to them, and she also had an offer from Yeovil Town Ladies.

Manchester City currently play in the FA Women’s Super League.

Following her one-week trial in February for Manchester City she was invited back in the Easter holidays and played a match against Blackburn under-16s for City and trained for another three days.

Harris found out the news while attending school at Budmouth College.

Harris said: “I found out at school and I just burst out crying with excitement.”

When asked about her aims, she said: “I hope that I go up there and improve ultimately. They are such a good club. The coaching and the facilities are amazing so I hope going up there will help me with links with future clubs or a future career or even England or Wales to play for when I am older.”

Harris, the daughter of former Weymouth player Andy Harris, has been a part of the Dorset County Girls squad since she was eight and has played for the Weymouth Cougars Boys Team since she was nine.

Andy Harris said: “We are absolutely delighted for her, we are so proud of her.

“We are absolutely made up with the character she has shown, to go up to Manchester and mix it with girls who have been involved with Manchester City for seven or eight years. Charlotte has shown the confidence to go up there and give a great account of herself and do herself really proud.”