Completely Sealed: Leicester City has strengthened their team walls with the recent acquisition of three enormously talented superstars.

Completely Sealed: Leicester City has strengthened their team walls with the recent acquisition of three enormously talented superstars.

Defensor Sophie Howard of Leicester City Women has officially signed a new deal that will keep her with the team through at least the conclusion of the 2024–2025 season.

Prior to the Foxes’ fourth Women’s Super League (WSL) season, the Scotland international, who joined Leicester from Reading in the summer of 2020, has reached fresh terms with the team.

The 30-year-old has played in more than 100 games for City, where she first helped them advance to the WSL in 2021 before becoming a mainstay in the top division for women’s football.

“I’m absolutely delighted to sign another year for Leicester City,” she remarked in an interview with LCFC.com. This is the place for me, and I’m excited for what lies ahead with the team, the club, and our supporters.

Having earned 50 caps for Scotland, Howard has a wealth of international experience. She also played in all 22 league games for the club in the 2023–24 season, which saw Leicester finish in 10th place and make their first-ever trip to the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals.

Following the confirmation of the departure of six first-team players by the club, news of the defender’s contract extension broke. Following the expiration of their contracts, Aimee Palmer, Remy Siemsen, Josie Green, Demi Lambourne, Monique Robinson, and Aileen Whelan have all since left the Foxes.

While Australia international Siemsen goes on after two seasons in Leicester colors, Palmer, who joined the club from Bristol City during the summer of 2023, leaves City having made 11 appearances in all competitions during her single season in Leicestershire.

Long-serving goalkeeper Lambourne, who spent the previous season on loan with Crystal Palace, and defender Green, who has made 40 appearances in all competitions at various places around the pitch, are also leaving Belvoir Drive after two seasons.

Robinson, an academy product, is leaving after most recently spending the second half of the 2023–24 season on loan in the FA Women’s National League North with Burnley.

Whelan, who announced her retirement from professional football this month, will also be leaving the game.