Sheffield United announce departure of six senior players | OneFootball

Sheffield United have confirmed six senior players will be leaving the club at the end of the month.

One of the players who will be moving on is Katie Wilkinson. The forward joined the club from London Bees in 2019 and has since made a total of 46 appearances and found the net on 41 occasions.

Wilkinson also won two individual awards during her two campaigns as a Blade, including Player of the Season and the Golden Boot. It has been announced the former No.9 will join Championship rivals Coventry United ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Fellow striker Mel Johnson is another player who will be leaving the club at the end of June. Since joining from Aston Villa last year, Johnson has gone onto make 20 appearances in her first season and scored six goals along the way.

Following the two forwards is captain Leandra Little. The defender joined the Blades in 2019 after leaving Liverpool, where she was recruited by current Sheffield United manager Neil Redfearn. Little has retired from after an admirable 19 years in the women’s game.

Northern Ireland international Natalie Johnson is also amongst the players who will be departing this summer. The defender joined the blades from the recently crowned Championship winners, Leicester City last year. During her first season under Neil Redfearn, she clocked up a total of 16 appearances.

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Jade Pennock, who arrived at Sheffield United at the beginning of the club’s Championship spell back in 2018 from Doncaster Rovers, will also be moving on. The versatile No.7 has scored 29 goals throughout all competitions in her 67 appearances.

Pennock is also the club’s all-time top goalscorer across their history in the second-flight.

Chloe Dixon, who joined the club Sheffield FC will also be moving on at the end of the month. The full-back made a total of 48 appearances for the club after been a constant presence on the pitch. She also found the net twice.

Naomi Hartley is the sixth player to be moving onto pastures new. The centre-back who joined initially in 2019 on loan from Manchester United, went on to make the deal a permanent transfer. Hartley appeared in all Sheffield United’s fixtures since joining the club, up until the final game of the 20/21 season against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.

Bex Rayner still remains under contract with the club despite joining in January. Upon finishing their rehabilitation procedures after suffering ACL injuries, Ellie Wilson and Athena Paul will link back up with the playing squad during the next season.

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