Cliftonville FC has welcomed back two of its most celebrated stars, as Northern Ireland internationals Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel return to the club following a season with Burnley. The dynamic duo, who were instrumental in the Reds' historic back-to-back title triumphs in 2022 and 2024, are set to reignite the team's championship ambitions.

Maxwell, a prolific winger, netted 11 league goals during the 2024 campaign, while McDaniel opened the scoring in the dominant 5-0 Irish Cup final victory over Lisburn Rangers. That win capped a remarkable domestic treble and an undefeated Women's Premiership season—a feat that earned the Reds the nickname "invincibles." Maxwell's brilliance didn't go unnoticed; she claimed the Women's Premiership Player of the Year award in both 2023 and 2024, and recently scored in Northern Ireland's 4-0 World Cup qualifying win against Malta.

McDaniel, who joined Cliftonville in 2021 after stints with Linfield, Hearts, and Blackburn Rovers, brings a wealth of experience, having been part of Northern Ireland's historic Euro 2022 squad. Together, their return adds firepower and leadership to a side that narrowly lost the Premiership title to Glentoran last season.

Cliftonville kicked off the new season in style with a 5-0 thrashing of Lisburn Ladies on Friday, and with Maxwell and McDaniel back in the fold, the Reds look poised to challenge for silverware once again. For fans and aspiring players, this reunion is a reminder that champions never truly leave—they just come home.