First Mexican woman to play for Manchester United women’s team

Tec graduate Rebeca Bernal, a former player for the Borregos Monterrey women’s team, has become the first Mexican woman to play for Manchester United women’s team in the English Women’s Super League.

The 29-year-old player was part of the Mexican national soccer team. She has played professionally for Rayadas de Monterrey, as captain, and joins the English team from the US NWSL’s Washington Spirit.

“I’ve had many special moments throughout my career; the privilege of representing Manchester United is truly incredible”, Rebeca told the team’s news site, manutd.com.

“I can’t wait to start this new chapter, give it my all, and bring all my experience and passion to help move the team forward and to help us fight together to achieve our goals”, she added.

Bernal is the second Mexican national to represent United, after Javier “Chicharito” Hernández joined the men’s team in 2010. She is a PrepaTec Eugenio Garza Lagüera graduate.

Experience in the English league

Rebeca, from Tampico, Tamaulipas, has played as a defender and defensive midfielder. She played for the Monterrey campus team until 2016.

Bernal made her debut with Rayadas in 2017; she won four league titles with the team. 

She has played 65 matches for the Mexican national team at U-17, U-20, and senior levels.

Rebeca helped score a goal that bought Mexico its first-ever gold medal in women’s football at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

Now, she will play for Manchester United, wearing the number 16 shirt, in the season starting on September 4. She is signed with the English team until 2029.

Bernal isn’t the first Mexican woman to play in the English league. The first was Silvana Flores, who played for Tottenham Hotspur in 2021–2022.

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