Childhood in Spanish Town

Before she was making waves on the European football scene, Khadija Shaw grew up in Spanish Town, Jamaica. In her family, women’s football was not seen as a viable career path. Her parents preferred her to focus on her studies and forbade her from playing. Passionate and determined, the young Khadija would sneak off in her school uniform to join her brothers and the local lads on the pitches. She eventually struck a deal with her mother: good marks in exchange for the right to play football. A decisive compromise. But her childhood was also marked by grief; she lost three of her brothers and a nephew in gang-related violence. These tragedies forged a mental resilience that could withstand anything.

The move to the United States

Spotted for the national team at the age of 13, Shaw flew to the United States on university scholarships. She attended Navarro College and Eastern Florida State College before making a name for herself playing for the University of Tennessee.

On the court, she dropped back a notch to centre before moving back into attack, where she proved devastating. In 2018, she was voted the Southeastern Conference’s top offensive player. At the same time, she graduated with a degree in communications, becoming the first member of her family to graduate from university.

Her breakthrough in Europe

In 2019, Shaw crossed the Atlantic and signed for Girondins de Bordeaux to launch her professional career in Europe. In the French Division 1, she made her mark with her physical presence and goal-scoring instinct, netting 32 goals in 35 matches. Her performances caught the eye of Manchester City, whom she joined in 2021. In England, the Jamaican quickly became the leading attacking force in the Women’s Super League. During the 2023–2024 season, she netted 21 goals in 18 matches and won her first English Golden Boot

Success at Manchester City

The 2025–2026 season marked the pinnacle of her club career. With 21 league goals, she claimed her third consecutive Golden Boot and led Manchester City to the English league title. Having also won the FA Cup, City achieved a historic double.

Across all competitions, she enjoyed a phenomenal season, scoring 26 goals and providing 9 assists in 32 matches. Crowned PFA and FWA Player of the Year, she established herself as the most complete and feared striker on the continent.

Achievements with her national team

As captain and figurehead of the Reggae Girlz, Khadija Shaw has changed the course of football in her country. In 2018, she led Jamaica to the 2019 World Cup in France – a historic first for a Caribbean nation. In 2023, the national team reached new heights by advancing to the round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Led by Bunny Shaw, the Jamaican team has become a true source of inspiration for a whole generation of young girls across the Caribbean.

Ballon d'Or recognition

On 26 October 2026, her achievement was officially recognised when Khadija Shaw took third place on the podium at the 2026 Women’s Ballon d'Or, just behind Alexia Putellas and Ewa Pajor. She thus became the highest-ranked Jamaican player in the history of the award. From Spanish Town to the London spotlight, ‘Bunny’ Shaw proved that no obstacle was too great to prevent raw talent from reaching the very top of the footballing world.