Fourteen players out, six new signings in, and a WSL 2 campaign starting on 6 September. That is the scale of the task facing Leicester City Women this summer — and the one senior figure who chose to stay and lead it is captain Sam Tierney.

When Leicester's five-year spell in the Women's Super League ended in May with a play-off defeat to Charlton Athletic, the departures came quickly. Among the nine players who featured in that play-off tie and subsequently left, goalkeeper Janina Leitzig moved to Manchester United and attacking trio Hannah Cain, Noemie Mouchon and Jutta Rantala all joined Everton. The squad has been hollowed out.

Tierney's decision to sign a new contract through to 2028, confirmed in July, therefore carries genuine weight. The 27-year-old midfielder has made 151 appearances for the Foxes since joining from Sheffield United in 2020 — more than any other current player — and has served under seven managers during that time. She was part of the squad that earned promotion to the WSL in 2021 and reached the Women's FA Cup semi-finals in 2024.

Why she stayed

The simple explanation, in Tierney's own words: she does not feel she is finished at Leicester. "I'm not the type to want to jump ship," she told BBC Sport. "Since I've been at Leicester, I've created a genuine connection with the club. I am very proud to play for Leicester."

That connection matters partly because of how difficult last season was. Leicester collected just two wins from 22 WSL matches and finished with a goal difference of minus 41. The club faced questions about whether the women's team would continue playing at King Power Stadium and whether the budget would be cut significantly.

The club's response has been to allow the departing players to leave for fees, with that transfer income reinvested into new signings. Whether the net result is a squad capable of bouncing straight back remains to be seen, but Tierney is clear about the ambition: she wants Leicester to be a sustainable WSL club, not a yo-yo side. "I want people to be jealous of Leicester," she said. "I know that's the potential of this club."

Rebuild in numbers

Pre-season results have been mixed — a win against Rugby Borough, a draw with Manchester United and a defeat to Liverpool — though those outcomes matter less than the mood Tierney describes inside the camp. Six new players have joined the squad, and three others have extended their contracts alongside her.

"You can see there's been a reflection period, there's been a review and you can see the direction we want to go in," said Tierney. "We want to be a different Leicester and it's time to change the narrative."

The WSL 2 opener against Sheffield United kicks off at 14:00 BST on 6 September (note: Tierney joined Leicester from Sheffield United back in 2020, making that a notable first fixture). The standard of the second tier has risen, and promotion is not guaranteed simply because a club has WSL pedigree.

The longer view

Tierney's perspective on Leicester's trajectory is worth noting. When she arrived in 2020, the women's squad trained on a local park rather than the men's Belvoir Drive facility. The infrastructure has improved considerably since, even if results last season did not reflect that. She is betting that the foundations are solid enough to rebuild on — and that her presence, as the longest-serving player and captain, helps newer arrivals buy into that same belief.

"The moment that I leave, I want Leicester to be in a better position than when I started here," she said. That is the standard she has set for herself. Whether WSL 2 turns out to be a one-season detour or something longer will go a long way to defining whether she achieves it.

Frequently asked

Why were Leicester City Women relegated from the WSL?
Leicester City Women were relegated after finishing bottom of the Women's Super League in the 2024-25 season, winning just two of their 22 matches and conceding heavily. They then lost their WSL play-off tie against Charlton Athletic in May 2025.
Who has left Leicester City Women this summer?
Fourteen players have departed since relegation was confirmed. Notable exits include goalkeeper Janina Leitzig, who joined Manchester United, and forwards Hannah Cain, Noemie Mouchon and Jutta Rantala, who all moved to Everton.
When do Leicester City Women start their WSL 2 season?
Leicester City Women's first WSL 2 fixture is against Sheffield United on Saturday, 6 September, with kick-off at 14:00 BST.