On Thursday, Sunderland Ladies announced their second double transfer swoop of the off-season.
With just over a month to go until the return of the WSL, Krystle Johnston and Rachel Pitman have joined the club on one and two-year deals, respectively.
Johnson swaps City for Lady Black Cats
After just short of a decade with Manchester City Women, Johntson left at the end of the 2015 season.
The 31-year-old winger will bring great experience into a youthful Sunderland side, who are keen to push on from last year's super showing.
Johnston said it was a "really easy decision to make" and expressed how "delighted" she was to have signed with the North East outfit.
The former City player admitted boss Carlton Fairweather "didn’t really need to persuade [her]" to take up the offer.
She says experiences tells her "what it’s all about", and that "there is a real sense of togetherness" which makes Sunderland "so hard to play against".
Pitman returns to England
Rachel Pitman, the second of the pair, has signed with the Lady Black Cats having returned from DePaul University in Chicago.
A former England youth international, Pitman joins on a two-year deal and will bolster the full-back ranks.
The 22-year-old also said it was "an easy decision" choose Sunderland, mainly because of the overall set-up. She believes, "There is not much better out there."
The youngster empahsised that she is joining "a club who are striving to be at the top" and that she is "delighted to be a part of that ambition".
Important window for Sunderland
Despite losing Rebekah Bass to Middlesbrough and both Sarah McFadden and Rebecca Salicki to Durham, it has been a largely successful off-season for Fairweather.
Lucy Staniforth and Kylla Sjoman arrived from Liverpool Ladies and Celtic respectively, while Beth Mead, Stephanie Bannon and Victoria Wiliams all signed extensions.