CAROLINE WEIR has described playing for Manchester City as "an honour" after it was announced that she is leaving the club.

The Dunfermline-born midfield ace, who has been linked heavily with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, is departing the Barclays WSL (Women's Super League) side this summer at the end of her current contract.

Scotland international Caroline, a former pupil at Pittencrieff Primary and Dunfermline High, signed for City in the summer of 2018 from Liverpool Ladies.

After penning an initial two-year deal – which she extended by a further two in January 2020 – the 87-times capped star has gone on to make 124 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 38 goals.

She is, however, heading for pastures new, and said: "It has been an honour to represent Manchester City for four great years.

"Thank you to my team-mates, staff and, most importantly, the incredible fans for your support over the years.

"I will always have a special place in my heart for the club and will be supporting you all from afar."

Caroline, who began playing football with Elgin Star before embarking on a journey that has also taken in stops at Hibernian and Arsenal, won four trophies during her time with City, winning the Vitality Women's FA Cup and the Continental Tyres League Cup on two occasions.

She clinched three consecutive Goal of the Season accolades for efforts against derby rivals Manchester United, with the latter two seeing her nominated in successive years for the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award.

She is now set for a new challenge, and a move to Real Madrid Femenino, who have reached the qualifying round of next season's Champions League, has been tipped as her next destination.

Last year, speaking to the The Official Scotland Podcast, Caroline revealed that one of her first football kits as a youngster was that of Real Madrid, including the name and number of Zinedine Zidane, but in an interview with the Herald in April, she was coy on her future.

"I want to win a league title, I want to be competing for a Champions League,” said Caroline, who was also voted as the inaugural Glen’s SFWA (Scottish Football Writers Association) Scottish Women’s Player of the Year this year.

"They are team goals and then I have individual goals that I set myself every season to try and achieve. I feel I am in a good moment physically. I am not a young player any more. I have a bit of experience behind me and it is about pushing) because they’re a massive club. That’s the way the game is, there’s lots of attention on it and people want to know what you’re thinking."