LIVERPOOL announced the signing of former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Jade Bailey yesterday.

The now 23-year-old started her career at Arsenal before moving across London to rivals Chelsea in 2016.

Bailey made 16 appearances for Chelsea as a defensive midfielder, also occasionally playing in defence. 

However, in April she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling her out of participation for the entirety of the following campaign. 

In January 2019, after her return from injury, Chelsea gave Bailey a one-year contract extension and sent her on loan to Reading to prove her fitness — she made five appearances in the Women’s Super League during her half a season there. 

On the move to Merseyside, manager Vicky Jepson said: “We wanted a young, talented individual to add quality and depth to our midfield.

“She’s got a great background coming through at Arsenal and going to Chelsea.

“She’s had a good education and now she needs to showcase to the Women’s Super League what she’s about.”

Bailey will join the club for pre-season in the United States after it was announced at the beginning of July that Liverpool will travel there for their first ever pre-season tour of the US. 

The team will join Jurgen Klopp’s first team squad. 

The players will undertake a pre-season training camp, including playing two games for specially invited guests, against Cleveland Ambassadors at Notre Dame University and New York Athletic at Boston University.

On the pre-season tour, Liverpool Women chair Peter Moore said: “I’m absolutely delighted we are returning to the USA this summer with not one but two LFC teams.

“Ensuring LFC Women could embark on their first ever tour of America is another sign of our commitment to the ‘two teams but one club’ ethos.”

Liverpool start their WSL campaign with a home again against Bailey’s old side Reading at the beginning of September.