Man United's Bizet Thriving While Pregnant and Playing

At just 24 years old, Celin Bizet Donnum decided she wasn't going to wait to start the family she always wanted.

The Manchester United winger announced in December that she and her husband Aron, also a professional footballer, are expecting their first child in 2026. While many athletes wait until retirement to become mothers, Bizet Donnum saw no reason to put her life on hold.

"If you have two dreams, you can live both of them at the same time," she told the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast. Her matter-of-fact confidence reveals a shifting culture in women's sports.

The decision wasn't easy. Missing an entire season felt scary, but the thought of waiting until after her career ended felt even worse. "For me, it was even more scary to not have the baby in my career," she explained.

Ellen White, the former England striker who interviewed Bizet Donnum, waited until retirement to start her family. White remembers when older players felt they had to sacrifice motherhood for tournaments and team commitments. "It felt like maybe one sacrifice was not having a baby while playing," White said.

But things are changing fast. Aston Villa's Missy Bo Kearns, also 24, recently announced her pregnancy. Hannah Blundell returned to football just seven months after giving birth. Birmingham City striker Simone Magill is expecting in May.

Manchester United has built support systems that go far beyond basic requirements. Bizet Donnum gets personalized nutrition plans, psycho-social support, and specialized physiotherapy. The club even gave her flexibility to spend time with her husband, who plays in France.

The pelvic floor physiotherapy caught her completely off guard. "I didn't have a clue about pelvic floor!" Bizet Donnum laughed. "But the doctor at Manchester United introduced me and it has been game-changing."

FIFA introduced protective regulations in 2024, guaranteeing pregnant players 14 weeks of full pay and allowing clubs to temporarily replace them. The Women's Super League, fully professional since 2018, has embedded these protections into every club's culture.

Why This Inspires

Bizet Donnum represents something powerful: women refusing to accept false choices. For decades, female athletes heard they had to pick between their careers and families. Male athletes never faced that question.

When people ask if she's quitting football, her response is immediate: "That was not in my mind for a second. Of course I will come back to football. That's my motivation." She stays in training every day, working with specialists who understand exactly what her body needs.

She's not just planning her return. She's counting down to it. "I am so excited to come back," she said while watching games from the sidelines. "It's hard when I'm watching the games and wishing I played."

But she has perspective beyond her playing years. After her career, will she regret missing one season, or will she simply be happy she had a child? The answer seems obvious.

Young players watching her journey now have living proof that motherhood and elite athletics can coexist beautifully.