Netball Super League | Manchester Thunder sign Ella Bowen from Loughborough Lightning

Following a breakout season at Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) runners-up Loughborough Lightning, defender Ella Bowen has made the move back to her first club and current champions Manchester Thunder.

Twenty-year-old Ella Bowen is a versatile defender who covers all three defensive positions. After representing the Manchester Thunder performance pathway between 2018 – 2020, she moved to university and joined Loughborough Lightning.

Bowen has impressed at international level by earning a spot in the England Roses Academy at just 15 years old. In early 2019, she was part of the squad that won the U17 Netball Europe where she vice-captained the side, as well as U21 Europe Netball in 2021.

In 2021, Bowen competed domestically for Lightning’s U19 side, and was named the league’s Player of the Season as Lightning won the title. Due to her outstanding performance, in 2022 Bowen received her first call up into their Superleague squad, making 19 appearances throughout the season.

Bowen said: “I’m super excited to announce that I will be returning to Manchester Thunder for the 2023 season. I am buzzing to be back and involved with it all over again.

“Last season, I had an amazing opportunity playing for Loughborough Lightning in my first Vitality Netball Superleague season. I can’t wait to get going with Thunder, hit the ground running and start training with the girls to learn more and hopefully develop with some of the most amazing and experienced players. I can’t wait to get going and see what the season can bring.”

As Bowen’s university degree came to an end, she was quickly snapped back up by Thunder, and she returns home to Manchester for the 2023 season, joining other signings including Taylor McKevitt, Amy Clinton and Lenize Potgieter.

Karen Greig, Head Coach and Director of Netball for Manchester Thunder, said, “I’m looking forward to working with Ella. Even though she has been a part of our Thunder Pathway previously, I haven’t had the chance to work with her before.

“To see her be so successful and a key part of the Loughborough Lightning squad last season, she proved to be a strong powerful defender who is dogged in her defensive style, and I think she will fit back in our Superleague style no problem at all! Ella was recently selected into the future Roses programme, and I think she is definitely an exciting addition for us.”

Bowen becomes Manchester Thunder’s eighth signing of the 2023 Signing Window following Taylor McKevitt, Lenize Potgieter, Lois Pearson, Elia McCormick and Amy Carter, Yasmin Roebuck and Amy Clinton You can view their full squad here.

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