Leicester captain Tierney commits to rebuild after WSL relegation

When Leicester City were relegated from the Women's Super League (WSL) to the second-tier WSL 2 in May, it triggered a mass exodus of players. Fourteen have left in the summer transfer window, including nine who featured in the WSL play-off defeat to Charlton Athletic. Goalkeeper Janina Leitzig moved to Manchester United, while attacking trio Hannah Cain, Noemie Mouchon, and Jutta Rantala joined Everton. The club now faces a major rebuild as it aims for an immediate return to the top flight.

Amid the departures, captain Sam Tierney, the club's longest-serving player, gave supporters a boost by signing a new contract until 2028 in July. The 27-year-old midfielder, who has made 151 appearances for the Foxes, explained why she chose to stay during a period of transition.

A deep connection to the club

Tierney, who joined Leicester from Sheffield United in 2020, has experienced both highs and lows with the club. 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. Despite the recent struggles, she feels a strong bond with the club and its people.

“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 told BBC Sport. “I wanted to succeed and we've had a good number of years where it's been up and down, but I feel like now we're at a point where we can rebuild.”

She acknowledged the club's current reputation but insisted it is undeserved. “I think it's difficult because Leicester, at the minute, gets a bit of a bad rep. The club is fantastic and so are the people. It's a family kind of club and we're just going through a change. I am very proud to play for Leicester.”

A season to forget and a swift response

Last season was one to forget for Leicester, as their five-year stay in the WSL ended with just two wins from 22 matches and a goal difference of -41. The men's team also suffered relegation to League One. The poor campaign raised questions about the women's team's future, including whether they would continue playing at King Power Stadium and whether their budget would be cut.

The club acted quickly, allowing players who wanted to leave to depart for transfer fees, which have been reinvested in the squad. Tierney hopes this marks the start of a new era that will make other clubs envious.

“When I first joined Leicester, we were training on one of the local parks. We weren't at Belvoir Drive where the men were. The progression is incredible,” she said. “I want to make sure people want to play for Leicester. I want people to stay at Leicester. I want people to be jealous of Leicester. I know that's the potential of this club and hopefully we'll get that.”

Building for the future

Tierney has played under seven managers during her time at Leicester. She knows change will not happen overnight but is determined to help the club become sustainable in the WSL rather than a yo-yo club.

“The type of person I am means I'm not happy if I don't feel like I'm finished somewhere,” she added. “The direction the club want to go in and the change that needs to be made to do that, I'm on board with. Ultimately, my biggest thing is to make sure people feel the same connection that I have to the club and they want the club to progress. The moment that I leave, I want Leicester to be in a better position than when I started here.”

Pre-season is already under way, with Leicester beating Rugby Borough, drawing with Manchester United, and losing to Liverpool. Six new signings have joined, and three other players have renewed their contracts alongside Tierney. As they prepare for their WSL 2 opener against Sheffield United on 6 September (14:00 BST), Tierney senses a shift in momentum.

“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. We can feel that. We've changed,” she said.