Newcastle United FC Women

Shania Hayles has become Newcastle United’s first signing of the summer, joining from Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.  The 24-year-old forward has won the Championship title with both the Robins in 2023 and Aston Villa in 2020 and has also played for Birmingham City.  Hayles has won 3 caps for Jamaica.

Sunderland have confirmed that goalkeeper Claudia Moan has left the club after her contract expired.  Moan won the Championship Player of the Season and Golden Glove awards at the end of the 2023/24 season after she kept 10 clean sheets in 22 league games and helped the club to finish in a very impressive third place. 

Birmingham City have signed Northern Ireland international defender Rebecca McKenna on a two-year contract.  McKenna played for Charlton Athletic last season in the Championship where she made 25 appearances in all competitions and featured in all their league games.  The 23-year-old had previously spent two seasons at Lewes in the second tier as well as playing for Glentoran and Linfield in Northern Ireland.  She has been capped 43 times by her country and made two appearances at Euro 2022.

Goalkeeper Demi Lambourne has joined Sunderland after signing a two-year contract with the club.  The 28-year-old recently left Leicester City, who she helped win the Championship in 2021.  She spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace where she kept 7 clean sheets in 15 league games as the Eagles won the second tier title and promotion to the WSL.

Tegan McGowan has signed two-year contract with Birmingham City.  The 20-year-old forward recently left Charlton Athletic where she spent two seasons and made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals.  McGowan came through the Chelsea academy before joining the Addicks when she was 18.  An ACL injury ruled her out for nearly a year before returning in October 2023 and she scored a brace for Charlton in her final match for them against Southampton.  McGowan has represented Wales internationally at youth levels.

22-year-old striker Eleanor Dale has signed for Sunderland.  Dale had been at WSL side Everton during the second half of the 2023/24 season joining them from US College team Nebraska Huskers where she broke their goalscoring record with 28 goals. 

Lucy Fitzgerald has signed a new one-year contract with London City Lionesses which will keep her with the club for a record-setting sixth season.  The 23-year-old was a member of the Pride’s inaugural squad and has made 102 appearances in all competitions in the last five seasons.  Fitzgerald has played as a full-back, wing-back, winger and central midfielder during her time with them and has represented England as a youth international.  Her new contract includes the option of a further season with the Pride.

Goalkeeper Anna King has signed her first professional contract with Durham.  The 22-year-old joined the club at 14 and has represented their Professional Game Academy under-21 side over the last two seasons.  King has gained experience of senior football with Durham Cestria in the FA Women’s National League.  She has signed a long-term contract with the Wildcats and will wear the number 13 shirt in the 2024/25 season.

19-year-old Emily Pitman has signed a one-year professional contract with Portsmouth.  The forward joined from Arsenal in 2023 and scored 7 goals in 29 appearances during her first season with Pompey as they got promoted to the Championship. 

Durham have announced that Grace Ayre, Olivia Bramley, Dee Bradley, Lily Crosthwaite, Beth Hepple, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle and Ella Wilson have all been retained by the club for the 2024/25 season whilst Becky Salicki, Sarah Wilson, Sarah Robson, Tatiana Saunders and Abby Holmes have all signed new contracts with the Wildcats.