Leicester City to release 12 players after securing WSL status | OneFootball

Leicester City have announced the news that 12 first team players are being released by the club this summer.

FAWSL Full-Time were provided with The Foxes’ squad update via an official club press release this afternoon.

Leicester City secured their Barclays Women’s Super League status with a 1-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day of the season but the East Midlands club will line-up quite differently in 2023/2024 with no less than 12 players being released over the summer.

The club have announced that Sophie Barker, Natasha Flint, Kirstie Levell, Charlie Devlin, Lachante Paul, Molly Pike, Jess Sigsworth, Abbie McManus, Connie Scofield, Jemma Purfield, Ellen Jones and Georgia Eaton-Collins are all moving on this summer.

Midfielder Pike was the most used player in 2022/2023 of those being released by Leicester City after making 18 appearances for the club in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Full-back Purfield was given 15 outings while the other players being released were either out of favour, had their campaigns impacted by injury or were sent out on loan.

Speaking after the club’s released list was announced, Leicester City boss Willie Kirk said “Our thanks go out to all the players who are moving on this summer for their efforts in a Leicester City shirt. They leave with the Club in a strong position and ready to build on the successes of our first two seasons in the top division of women’s football.

“We have a growing fanbase, an exciting core of talented young players and a bright future ahead of us. We head into a summer now that will see us strengthen even further around that core group as we look to use the achievements of the past few years as a foundation for continued progress and success.”

Leicester City finished the 2022/2023 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign in 10th position, their highest ranking to date.