Captain commits as club begins major rebuild
Leicester supporters have received a boost this summer as Sam Tierney, the club captain and longest-serving player, committed her future to the women’s side following a turbulent campaign that ended in relegation. The 27-year-old has signed a new deal running until 2028 and intends to be central to a planned recovery.
Tierney, who has made 151 appearances for the Foxes, told BBC Sport she did not want to "jump ship" despite the club’s drop to WSL 2 in May. Her decision comes amid a significant turnover of playing staff: fourteen players have departed during the summer transfer window, including nine who started the WSL play-off defeat by Charlton Athletic.
- Departures: 14 players have left the club in the summer window.
- Notable exits: Janina Leitzig, Hannah Cain, Noemie Mouchon and Jutta Rantala moved on to other clubs.
- Captain’s commitment: Tierney signed a new contract to 2028 and intends to lead a rebuild.
The scale of the clear-out reflects the severity of last season’s results. Leicester won just two out of 22 league matches and finished the campaign with a -41 goal difference. That poor return saw the side end a five-year stay in the top flight, mirroring the men’s team who were relegated to League One at the end of their season.
“I’m not the type to want to jump ship. Since I’ve been at Leicester, I’ve created a genuine connection with the club,” Tierney said.
Her words underline a sense of loyalty that local supporters and community figures have welcomed. Tierney described the club as a "family kind of club" and expressed pride in representing Leicester despite the negative press the team has sometimes attracted.
Rebuilding with a view to future success
Club executives have moved quickly to allow players who wished to leave to do so, securing fees intended to be reinvested in a new squad. That approach aims to balance immediate financial realities with the sporting need to assemble a competitive team capable of winning promotion back to the WSL.
Tierney told BBC Sport the situation presents an opportunity to grow a new Leicester that may, in time, "make people jealous". While caution is warranted—only time will tell whether the changes are sufficient—the captain’s long-term deal provides continuity at a time when many familiar faces have exited.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Tierney's appearances | 151 |
| Age of captain | 27 |
| League wins (last season) | 2 of 22 |
| Goal difference | -41 |
| Players departed this summer | 14 |
For local fans, the summer has been a period of unsettling change. Key departures include goalkeeper Janina Leitzig, who joined Manchester United, and attackers Hannah Cain, Noemie Mouchon and Jutta Rantala, who moved to Everton. The exits have left holes across the pitch that the club must now fill.
Leicester’s swift action in facilitating departures has provided funds to reinvest, according to the club. The incoming window will be watched closely by supporters and local media alike as the Foxes attempt to assemble a squad capable of mounting an immediate promotion challenge.
The captain’s message to the city is one of resilience. By committing until 2028, Tierney has offered a familiar figure around whom a retooled team can coalesce. Her presence will be important in galvanising younger players and maintaining a link to the club’s recent WSL history as Leicester seeks to reset.
With the new season approaching, the focus in Leicester will be on recruitment, pre-season preparation and forging a collective identity that can translate into results. For a city used to closely following both men’s and women’s football, the coming months will be decisive in determining whether the club can rebuild quickly or face a longer route back to the top flight.
