Newcastle United defender Charlotte Potts is retiring from professional football and is pregnant.
WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Magpies just a short time ago.
The 31-year-old has featured for Newcastle United across two spells. She has made 91 appearances for The Magpies in all competitions, scoring 18 goals. She has most-recently helped the club establish themselves in Barclays WSL2, although the player has had some bad luck with injuries.
With a new arrival on the way, Potts has opted to hang up her boots and concentrate on family life.
After the news was revealed, Potts said “The past couple of seasons have been a whirlwind and it’s disappointing that I haven’t been able to perform consistently for the fans at the level I believe I should be playing at.
“I’m happy with what I’ve achieved at Newcastle, and in my career, so it’s a bit bittersweet. Whenever I played for Newcastle, it always felt like home. I found my football family here, and when we achieved those back -to- back promotions, it was just the be st feeling ever.
“I’m really grateful for the club and how much they have helped me. The club really helped me to get back on my feet.
“I’m going to take on another rollercoaster now with motherhood. I’ve always had a close bond with my mam, so it is just going to create a special bond now with the next generation.”
Potts is the first player to leave Newcastle United in the close season.