City Women land Rutherford from Millwall Lionesses.

The striker will make the step up to the Women’s Super League after being a stand-out performer for the Millwall in the Championship last season.

Rutherford joins the contingent of young England Lionesses who will play their football at the Stoke Gifford Stadium this season, having represented her country at Under-19 level.

Bristol City Women manager Tanya Oxtoby said: “Ella possesses great technical ability and she should flourish here at Bristol City Women.

“She has proven she can compete at the Championship level and I believe she is ready to make the step up, we’re excited to see how she progresses in the Women’s Super League.”

Rutherford believes Bristol is the right club to move to at this stage in her career: “I can’t wait to get the season started with Bristol City Women. 

“I believe that I am ready to make the step up to the Women’s Super League level and Bristol is the right place for me to do that.

“They’ve got a great aim here and that is to take young players like myself and develop them into well-established players in the Women’s Super League and I believe what they’ve got in place here will allow me to do that.”