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Forward Keira Barry has opened up about her decision to depart from Manchester United and join Bay FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Five months ago, it was officially announced that Barry had left her boyhood club, Manchester United, to pursue new opportunities in the United States.

A graduate of the Manchester United Academy, Barry made her senior debut against Sheffield United in 2022. Over her time with the club, she made just two first-team appearances.

During her stint at Leigh Sports Village, Barry also went out on loan to Crystal Palace and Sunderland. Additionally, she represented the Reds in the inaugural Women’s Sevens tournament held in Portugal.

Despite her evident talent, recurring injuries hindered Barry from securing a regular place in Marc Skinner’s squad. However, the recent months have marked a resurgence in her career. Alongside her strong performances for Bay FC, she earned her first senior call-up to the England national team.

In an interview with GOAL, Barry discussed her departure from United and her new chapter with Bay FC.

She shared, “It’s always a difficult decision to leave a club where you’ve grown up.”

“For me, it was never just about football at United. I spent my entire childhood there, and it was a huge part of my family’s life too, as we’re all United supporters.”

“So, it was never going to be an easy choice—it was always going to be a tough move, regardless of the destination.”

She continued, “But it was the right moment to leave. I felt I needed that challenge and a fresh experience.”

Speaking about adapting to life in San Jose, Barry said, “Of course, it’s a massive change and a big move away from my family, but everything about it felt positive. To be fair to my parents, they both said, ‘You need to go. It’s too big an opportunity to turn down.’”

“It’s one of those rare opportunities in life that don’t come around often. I couldn’t refuse it—there was no reason to because it was exactly what I wanted, both for my football and my personal growth.”

Barry also expressed her happiness at finally overcoming the injury issues that had previously hampered her career, allowing her to focus fully on reaching her potential.