Brighton confirm departure of Li Mengwen with defender returning to China | OneFootball

After just two years on the South Coast of England, Li Mengwen has confirmed her departure from Brighton with the Chinese defender leaving by mutual consent.

Li Mengwen joined Brighton in 2023 but the Chinese international didn’t exactly set the league alight in her debut WSL campaign, with just 11 appearances for the Seagulls.

After a disappointing season for Brighton, finishing ninth in the league, Mengwen was sent on loan to West Ham which is where she spent 2024-25.

The 30-year-old finished another league campaign towards the bottom of the table and after a further 10 appearances for the Hammers, Mengwen called time on her career in England.

A club statement from Brighton said: “Everyone at the club would like to thank Li for her contribution during her time with Albion and wish her every success for the future.”

It was already known that the defender was returning to China this summer with West Ham confirming Mengwen’s desire to return home in April.

Before her brief spells with two WSL clubs, Mengwen played for Chinese side Jiangsu between 2009 to 2022 up until a move to PSG.

After hopping around to four different clubs in as many years, the former Brighton and West Ham star will most likely finish her career back in China for Jiangsu where it all began.

Brighton conducting summer clear-out

Brighton clearly weren’t happy with their finish in 2024/25, as the club has already began a clear-out this summer with five players departing.

Poppy Pattinson, Maria Thorisdottir, Guro Bergsvand, Dejana Stefanovic and Pauline Bremer have all announced that they will be leaving the club this summer.

There has been one new signing for the Seagulls in the transfer window though, with Japanese defender Moeka Minami set to join ahead of next season after Brighton paid her £100k release clause.

With the new League expansion adding an extra sense of jeopardy from next year this could just be the start of business for Brighton who will be desperate to stay in the first division.