Sunderland have announced the news that nine first team players have left the club this summer.
The Lady Black Cats announced the news via a post on their official club website this afternoon.
It has been reported that Abbey Joice, Abby Towers, Allison Cowling, Brenna McPartlan, Danielle Brown, Emma Kelly, Neve Herron, Nicki Gears and Tyler Dodds have all moved on. It is thought that Sunderland were keen to keep some of those departing players but they have opted for fresh challenges.
Midfielder Joice has made the decision to retire while forward Brown is relocating overseas with her family. The likes of Herron, Kelly and Dodds were highly-rated by Sunderland but they have seemingly opted for new challenges this season.
It has been confirmed that 16 players are contracted to the club for 2023/2024. Those players are Brianna Westrup, Claudia Moan, Liz Ejupi, Emily Scarr, Faye Mullen, Grace Ede, Grace McCatty, Jessica Brown, Katie Kitching, Katy Watson, Keira Ramshaw, Libbi McInnes, Louise Griffiths, Mary McAteer, Megan Beer and Megan Borthwick. The club have not confirmed how the players will operate in their new hybrid playing model, however, Westrup, Moan, Kitching and McAteer are all known to be full-time.
Sunderland’s squad will increase to 17 players should full-back Abby Holmes sign a contract extension with the club while long-term absentee Emily Hutchinson will also train with The Lady Black Cats as she recovers from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.
Manager Melanie Reay is likely to finish off her squad with further new signings in the coming weeks.
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