Barcelona goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck makes ‘dream’ return to football after stroke
Barcelona goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has reflected on making her “dream” return to first-team action after recovering from a stroke.
Roebuck, 25, did not feature for former club Manchester City during the 2023-24 campaign and announced in March she had suffered a left occipital infarct but had avoided lasting damage to her brain function and vision.
The England international made her Barcelona debut during Saturday’s 4-1 Liga F victory over Real Betis, her maiden first-team outing since Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United on May 21 2023.
“303 days later,” Roebuck wrote on Instagram, accompanied by a heart emoji.
“The goal was always to play the game I love again and at times it felt impossible but to do it for Barcelona is a dream. It’s been a journey thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way nothing will ever beat this feeling.”
Roebuck joined European champions Barcelona in the summer following the conclusion of her City contract and signed a deal that runs until 2026.
Cata Coll is Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper, while Gemma Font has also featured twice in Liga F this season, but Roebuck was given the nod by Pere Romeu at the Johan Cruyff Stadium on Saturday.
Roebuck, an 11-time England international, was part of the Lionesses’ 2022 European Championship-winning squad, and was Team GB’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
She broke into the City first team as an 18-year-old and established herself as the club’s No.1, but had her playing time restricted by the emergence of 19-year-old Khiara Keating during the 2023-24 campaign.
After being absent from the City first-team squad for much of 2024, Roebuck confirmed her diagnosis in March.
“I’ve had many weeks of follow-up tests, specialist appointments, and with the support of the medical team at the club I’m on the road to recovery,” she wrote on Instagram. “It’s great to be back with the girls, working on my rehab and more importantly feeling back to being normal Ellie.
“It’s been a really tough time, but with the support of my family, I’m now really positive and excited for my return to the pitch. Life can throw unexpected challenges at you and if this year has taught me anything, it’s that I’m strong and will give it all I’ve got for the thing I love most.”
Barcelona return to action against Hammarby in the Champions League on Thursday.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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