Cliftonville have confirmed the return of Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel, two Northern Ireland internationals who spent last season playing for Burnley in England. The BBC reports both players have signed back with the Belfast club, where each was part of the squad that won the treble before their departure.
The pair's return gives Cliftonville a notable boost in experience and international quality. Having represented Northern Ireland at senior level, Maxwell and McDaniel bring with them a profile that extends well beyond the Irish Premiership Women's League, and their time in England will have afforded them exposure to a different standard of football and preparation.
Cliftonville have been among the dominant forces in women's football in Northern Ireland in recent seasons, and the treble their squad delivered prior to Maxwell and McDaniel's move to Burnley underlined the strength of the club's project. Retaining and re-attracting players of this calibre suggests the club continues to offer a credible environment for those with international ambitions.
The decision by both players to return raises its own questions about the path available to Northern Irish women footballers who move to England. A single season with Burnley before coming back to Solitude may reflect any number of factors — playing time, contract terms, personal circumstances — though the wire does not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision.
What is clear is that Cliftonville will head into the coming season with two players who know the club well and carry the added perspective of having competed across the water. Whether that experience translates into further domestic success remains to be seen.