Manchester City’s new signing Sam Mewis has certainly set her sights high as she looks forward to her first season in the Women’s Super League.

US international Mewis says while she has not managed to catch much WSL action, she’s familiar with the Premier League and Man City’s star names.

“I really like Kevin De Bruyne, I’d try to emulate him if I could. I just think he's a great midfielder and player and watching the team play is so much fun,” she said.

"I said this the other day but I watched the All or Nothing [documentary] on Amazon Prime a couple of times and I really admire the way the men's team operates and drives to play.

“Growing up I mostly watched the US women’s national team, I was just a huge fan of them, but as I got a little bit older and realised I should watch more soccer I watched the Premier League more. I'm excited to be here and excited to experience the culture here in England and I hope that I go to a couple [Premier League] games if it's safe soon.”

The passion she has about signing for Man City is clear and she admits the timing of the pandemic, meaning the National Women’s Soccer League is unsure when it will return, was a contributing factor in her move.

"I think that coming to Man City, pandemic or not, is such a great opportunity, so I did hear about this a couple months ago and was curious about the WSL for the rest of the year. But I think that playing overseas has always interested me and I do feel the Challenge Cup was such a success for the NWSL.

"I just give them so much credit for pulling that off successfully. But for myself this was such a great opportunity and I didn't want to pass it up. I can’t speak to anyone else’s decision but I know the NWSL is still a great place to train and to play and I think the WSL will be as well.

“So I think for myself it [the pandemic] had a little bit of an impact, just timing wise, but I’m really excited to be here and it was a big opportunity.”

She added: "Man City is an incredible club and I didn’t even know I would get an opportunity like this. When I first heard about it my ears perked up because I know what an incredible club this is and what a great place to play.

"With the WSL, I have heard really good things from some of my team-mates on the US national team who have played here before so I'm just really excited and just being around this type of culture and being around this great club is going to add to my repertoire as a player.”

She says the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics was another fsctor that influenced her decision.

Mewis needs to impress the head coach of the US team Vlatko Andonovski to achieve her dream of going to the Olympics.

"There’s just so much uncertainty that part of me is like I want to try and make the Olympic roster. It's really tough roster to make it's something I haven't done before, so part of it was how can I be the best player I can be with Vlatko's roster decisions.

"But it is tricky, it's just a little scary doing something new and doing something that you've never done before but I'm hoping this decision will continue to grow my game and turn me into the best player possible to try and make the Olympic roster.  

“There's just a lot of uncertainty and everything that might happen so I just felt either way this is something I want to experience and to play for Man City is such an honour.”