England's Karen Carney returns for new league from USA
Carney joined Chicago Red Stars from Arsenal in 2009
By Tony Leighton
The new Women's Super League has been boosted by the news that Karen Carney has quit the Chicago Red Stars in the United States to rejoin Birmingham.
With England's star player Kelly Smith set to remain at Boston Breakers, Carney will be the Super League's biggest name when it starts next April.
An England regular since the age of 17, the 23-year-old winger will also be one of the league's biggest earners.
She will be one of the elite players on a salary of £20,000-plus a season.
That figure will be paid to the league's major players, while - like most of her England colleagues - Carney also gets £16,000-a-year through a central Football Association contract.
Her American club Chicago Red Stars ceased operations last week but the former Arsenal player says the decision to return home was made some time ago.
"Chicago knew my intentions a few months ago and I've been talking to Birmingham throughout that time," she told BBC Sport.
"Playing in America for the last two years has been a fantastic experience and I could have stayed, because I had offers from one or two clubs to join them.
"But my mind was made up to come back to England and to sign for my hometown club in what I think will be a brilliant new league."
Carney chose to join her first club Birmingham rather than consider a move back to Arsenal, with whom she won the Uefa Cup as well as all three of the top domestic honours.
"I talked only to Birmingham and not to Arsenal, although I had a great time there and they are the most professional club I've ever played for," she added.
"But if I was going to come back to England I wanted to be close to home, and I couldn't be any closer than with Blues.
"The club have put a very good playing squad together and I'm sure that we'll be competitive in the league."
In the eight-team Super League Blues will face Arsenal, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Belles, Everton, Lincoln and Liverpool.
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