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Jens Berthel Askou had one final chance to experiment ahead of the Premier Sports Cup opener against Clyde this weekend.

Carlisle United travelled to Fir Park to provide stiff opposition for the Steelmen. Chances came and went for Motherwell, with them dominating the ball and looking lively.

Andy Halliday scored the only goal of the afternoon from the spot, with many players impressing as they all push for a starting position for the first match of the season.

New Zealand international Elijah Just has made the permanent switch to Motherwell on a two-year deal subject to international clearance, with the club holding an option of a further year. 

The winger arrives from Danish 1st Division side Horsens for an undisclosed fee.

“I’ve had a great welcome from everyone at the club,” Elijah Just said.

“It’s great to be in the building and getting straight down to work. The season gets started this weekend, and I can’t wait to get playing.

“The discussions with the manager have been inspiring. He told me about his vision at Motherwell, and it sounds like a place you want to be as a player.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all the fans and starting our journey together.”

Just is already a well-established international with his national side, New Zealand, with over 30 caps already to his name at the age of just 25.

Representing his country at Under 17 and Under 20 level, Just received his first senior international call-up in 2019 and has gone on to play at the Olympics with the national side. In total, he has played 36 times for his country at senior level.

The winger’s football adventure started with the Olè Academy in Wellington. He started playing for the Western Suburbs side in the Central League, where he tasted silverware, lifting the Central League in 2017.

In 2018, he switched to the Eastern Suburbs side, where he scored seven goals in 20 games in one season.

His first move outside of New Zealand came in 2019, when he moved to Denmark to join FC Helsingør. From 2019 to 2022, he represented the club 73 times, scoring 14 goals. In his first season, he helped the side get promoted to the 1st Division in Denmark, where they went on to finish 4th in the standings the following season.

Remaining in the top half of the table for his other two seasons at the club, Just’s impressive displays earned him a move to Danish top-flight side Horsens in 2022. Playing 62 games and scoring four goals, he joined Austrian side SKN St. Pölten in the summer of 2024 on a season-long loan deal.

Scoring six goals in 19 games, Just finished fourth in the league standings and now makes the switch to Scotland.

“I’m delighted to be welcoming Elijah to Motherwell FC,” Jens Berthel Askou added.

“Elijah is a left-footed and technically very good player with a highly developed game intelligence. He thrives in small spaces within the opposition’s organisation where his ability to dribble or link up causes big dilemmas.

“Driving the ball with speed and moving fast into dangerous areas, he’ll use his strong finishing skills and creativity to create chances for his teammates.

“He is a good and intelligent presser of the ball and understands the value of working hard out of possession. Elijah will add tempo, speed and effectiveness to our attacking game, and I really look forward to integrating him into the team.”

Amy Bulloch has completed a permanent move to Motherwell from fellow SWPL side Partick Thistle. 

The women of steel have secured their first addition of the 2025/26 SWPL campaign, as Partick Thistle’s Player of the Year Amy Bulloch returns to Motherwell after previously featuring for the club in 2019.

Bulloch became an integral mainstay in former Jags manager Brian Graham’s side, with the 32-year-old making over 100-appearances in red and yellow, including two successive top-six finishes whilst featuring in the 2023/24 Sky Sports League Cup Final against Rangers.

“I’m delighted to be at the club,” Bulloch said.

“I was really attracted to the club, as they performed to a really high standard last season, achieving a top-six finish and a place at Hampden and I want to be a part of that again this season.

“I can’t wait to meet up with the full squad, and I am ready for the season ahead.”

Bulloch’s performances were reward, as the midfielder picked up the 2024/25 Partick Thistle Women’s Player of the Year.

“I’m really pleased to bring Amy to the club,” Head Coach Paul brownlie added.

“Earning the Partick Thistle Women’s Player of the Year is an exceptional achievement, as there is a lot of quality in that squad, so for Amy to receive that accolade last season is a real reflection of the quality that I feel we could benefit from in midfield.

“We are delighted to have Amy back as a Motherwell Player.”

Jens Berthel Askou reacts to his team’s pre-season win over Carlisle United at Fir Park.

Motherwell took on Carlisle United in a behind-closed-doors friendly match on Tuesday afternoon, with the Steelmen winning 1-0. 

Jens Berthel Askou named the same that took on FC Twente seven days prior, with new signing Eseosa Sule named amongst the substitutes.

In the glistening sun, it was Motherwell who had the first opportunity of the afternoon. Johnny Koutroumbis slipped the ball down the line for Tawanda Maswanhise, who beat his man and drove into the box. His shot went just wide of the far post on five minutes.

Just sixty seconds later, Lukas Fadinger beat his man with a burst of pace. As the Austrian drove into the box, he received a push in the back; however, the referee decided it wasn’t enough to warrant a penalty as Fadinger crashed to the deck.

Motherwell continued to have nice phases of play, dominating the ball for the most part. The Steelmen were creating space in the wide areas and looked a threat from every attack.

Callum Slattery and Lennon Miller linked up well to send Maswanhise in behind before the Zimbabwean was hauled to the ground by the Carlisle defender.

On 24 minutes, Miller’s free kick skimmed the roof of the net from 25 yards, as Motherwell continued to press for the opener.

Motherwell struck the woodwork twice on 28 minutes. Miller’s delivery from the corner found Stamatelopoulos, whose cushioned effort was deflected onto the post, with his follow-up also hitting the same post.

On 36 minutes, Carlisle had their first big chance of the afternoon. An intercepted pass found its way to former Well forward Luke Armstrong, who curled high and wide.

It only took 60 seconds for the first Well chance to arrive in the second-half. Slattery showed some exquisite skill in the middle of the pitch; O’Donnell’s curled cross met the head of the Motherwell number nine, but the effort was blocked.

On 49 minutes, the second opportunity came. Fadinger chipped the ball into the penalty area with the Carlisle keeper punching clear, but that clearance only reached Maswanhise, who twisted and turned but couldn’t find the target with his left-footed effort.

The chances in the game dried up. After the introduction of a number of substitutes, the next chance came on 73 minutes. Koutroumbis fired over from the second phase of a free kick.

On 74 minutes, new signing Sule won his side a penalty. Charging down the keeper, he was clipped by the keeper’s follow-through. Andy Halliday stepped up and fired into the top right corner to break the deadlock.

Ten minutes later, Slattery’s effort was deflected over the bar from 25 yards after Watt latched onto a loose pass.

The match ended bang on 90 minutes, with the Steelmen coming away with the win.

Get to know our new signing with three quick facts. 

Fact 1

Although this may be his first loan move in his career, settling in at the club won’t be an issue. Eseosa knows a number of players within the squad, including Lennon Miller and Luca Ross. Sule is also friends with former Motherwell player Kai Andrews.

He is best friends with Dylan Wells, with the pair playing Pro Clubs on EAFC 25 regularly.

Fact 2

As he knows some of the players in the squad, Sule has not only followed the Motherwell scores but actually attended two matches last season.

He travelled to Tynecastle for the Steelmen’s match against Hearts and was also at Fir Park for our final home match of the 24/25 season against Kilmarnock.

Fact 3

Sule’s younger brother used to play for Motherwell as a youngster. However, his brother has since switched sports and plays rugby.

Eseosa Sule has joined the club on a season-long loan deal from English Championship side West Brom.

The 19-year-old has just committed his future to the Baggies this summer, signing a new deal until June 2027 at the Hawthornes despite interest from across the globe.

He now makes his first loan move away from West Brom and joins Jens Berthel Askou’s squad ahead of the friendly against Carlisle on Tuesday 8 July.

“I’m excited for this move,” Sule said.

“The chance to get regular first-team minutes was an opportunity I couldn’t say no to. This move makes sense. Being from the area, I know the club and what it means to the supporters.

“Many players have come here, and it has helped their development. I hope to be the next player to experience that.”

Spending over a decade within the youth ranks at Celtic, Sule signed professional terms with the Parkhead side at the age of 16.

With many clubs following his quick progress, Sule opted to move south in 2023, joining West Brom’s scholarship programme. Predominantly playing for the Under 18 side for the latter stages of the 2022/23 season, he made a handful of appearances for the Premier League 2 squad that same season.

He left a positive impression with West Brom, and on his 17th birthday, he signed his first professional contract with the Baggies. During the 2024/25 season, Sule netted 14 times in all youth competitions, finishing as the leading goalscorer. During the season, he also made his first-team debut in a League Cup match against Fleetwood Town.

His impressive season led him to signing new terms with West Brom, and now he comes back to Scotland to build up his first-team experience.

“We’re extremely pleased to have Eseosa with us here at Motherwell,” manager Jens Berthel Askou said.

“He’s a young forward with very interesting attributes. His speed, athleticism and ball-striking are all impressive.

“Growing up not far from here, he already has a strong link to the area, which has enabled him to settle in very fast. He is a positive, energetic and eager young man who possesses great potential, and we really look forward to developing him into a very valuable and game-decisive player for the team.”

Colin Crichton has departed the club. 

The club can confirm that Assistant Coach Colin Crichton has left the club to pursue opportunities elsewhere. 

“It’s always disappointing to lose a talented young coach,” Head Coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Colin played a vital role in an historic season at the club, and we are disappointed to lose him from our coaching staff, but we wish him all the best for the future.”

“It’s been a pleasure to be part of this club,” Colin Crichton added.

“We’ve achieved a lot together as a group, and have built a strong group of staff and players, who are constantly looking to progress both on and off the pitch.

“I’m sad to leave the club, but felt that it was the right time to pursue another opportunity.”

This is more than just a kit. It’s a story that embodies our community.

You can pre-order your away kit now by clicking here.

The kit will be available to purchase in store on Friday 11 July.

It was on the 28 July 1996 that our community suffered it’s biggest loss to date. In just six seconds, livelihoods and a Lanarkshire landmark came crashing to the ground.

After more than four decades, the iconic Ravenscraig Steelworks were demolished, leading to thousands unemployed.

We honour our history with this season’s away kit that features the British Steel logo on the jersey. Predominately light blue, the kit features a small drip of claret and amber on the collar and cuffs.

Seven of our very own academy players have signed their first professional contracts.

Right-back Aiden Tearney comes in full-time, alongside central defenders Jack Dalziel and Aaron Thomson. Both Dalziel and Thomson are regulars for Scotland’s Under 16 side.

Winger Lucas Weir, a Scotland Under 16 international, will also make the step up, with fellow winger Robbie Hunter also joining the ranks.

Central midfielders Blane Watson and Aaron Buchanan has also signed professional terms.

Alongside the above seven, we have three further players who have signed amateur contracts as they continue their development at the club.

Strikers Evan Samuel and Olivier Wieczorek fall into this category, as does Kali Fraser-Traljic.

“This is always an exciting time for the players and staff at the club,” academy director David Clarkson said.

“We have seen the progression of players like Lennon Miller, Ewan Wilson, Dylan Wells, Olly Whyte and Luca Ross. They have come through the academy setup and have transitioned to life as a first-team player.

“This is the blueprint for Motherwell. With this young group of players, we feel we have an exciting group with lots of potential. But this is a step up for them. Coming into a first-team environment means you have to be willing to put in the work to go to the next level.

“All have showed great character and are keen to make that step. The staff here will work closely with them as we all strive to improve.”