2023–24 Leicester City W.F.C. season explained

Club:Leicester City
Season:2023–24
Manager:Willie Kirk
(suspended from 8 March, sacked on 28 March)
Jennifer Foster
(interim, from 8 March)
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Stadium:King Power Stadium, Leicester
League:WSL
League Result:10th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Semi-finals
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Group stage
League Topscorer:Jutta Rantala (6)
Season Topscorer:Jutta Rantala (10)
Highest Attendance:5,211
(vs. Manchester United, 28 April)
Lowest Attendance:1,064
(vs. Aston Villa, 19 January)
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Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

The 2023–24 Leicester City W.F.C. season was the club's 20th season of existence and their third season in the Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid. Along with competing in the WSL, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

On 8 March 2024, manager Willie Kirk was suspended pending an internal investigation over allegations of a relationship with one of the club's players. Assistant manager Jennifer Foster was placed in interim charge.[1] Kirk's permanent dismissal was confirmed on 28 March.[2]

Squad

Out on loan

Transfers

Transfers in

DatePositionNationalityNameFromRef.
4 July 2023DFCourtney Nevin Hammarby[3]
7 July 2023GKJanina Leitzig Bayern Munich[4]
10 July 2023FWLena Petermann Montpellier[5]
11 July 2023MFJanice Cayman Lyon[6]
1 August 2023MFAimee Palmer Bristol City[7]
16 August 2023GKLize Kop Ajax[8]
25 August 2023FWJutta Rantala Vittsjö GIK[9]
31 August 2023DFJulie Thibaud Bordeaux[10]
8 September 2023FWDeanne Rose Reading[11]
1 January 2024MFSaori Takarada Linköping FC[12]
5 January 2024FWYuka Momiki Linköping FC[13]
27 January 2024MFEmilia Pelgander KIF Örebro DFF[14]

Transfers out

DatePositionNationalityNameToRef.
2 June 2023GKSophia Poor Aston Villa[16]
6 June 2023DFSophie Barker Sheffield United[17] [18]
FWNatasha Flint Liverpool[19]
GKKirstie Levell Burnley[20]
MFCharlie Devlin Birmingham City[21]
FWLachante Paul Burnley[22]
MFMolly Pike Southampton[23]
FWJessica Sigsworth Sheffield United[24]
DFAbbie McManusRetired[25]
MFConnie Scofield London City Lionesses[26]
DFJemma Purfield Southampton[27]
FWEllen Jones Sunderland[28]
DFGeorgia Eaton-Collins HB Køge[29]
FWMackenzie Smith NC State Wolfpack[30]
7 July 2023DFErin SimonRetired[31]
13 July 2023DFAshleigh Plumptre Al-Ittihad[32] [33]

Loans out

DatePositionNationalityNameToUntilRef.
28 September 2023GKDemi Lambourne Crystal PalaceEnd of season[34]
3 January 2024DFJess Reavill West Bromwich AlbionEnd of season[35]
15 January 2024GKHolly Mears Nottingham ForestEnd of season[36]
1 February 2024MFMonique Robinson BurnleyEnd of season[37]

Women's Super League

See main article: 2023–24 Women's Super League.

League table

Women's FA Cup

See main article: 2023–24 Women's FA Cup.

As a member of the first tier, Leicester entered the FA Cup in the fourth round proper.

FA Women's League Cup

See main article: 2023–24 FA Women's League Cup.

Squad statistics

Appearances

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wrack . Suzanne . Leicester Women investigate manager Willie Kirk over alleged player relationship . The Guardian . 8 March 2024.
  2. Web site: Leicester sack Kirk after relationship allegation . BBC Sport.
  3. Web site: Leicester sign full-back Nevin on permanent deal . BBC Sport.
  4. Web site: Janina Leitzig completes LCFC Women return . Leicester City F.C. . 7 July 2023 . 7 July 2023.
  5. Web site: LCFC Women sign German international Lena Petermann . 12 July 2023 . 10 July 2023.
  6. Web site: Janice Cayman switches to LCFC Women . Leicester City F.C. . 11 July 2023 . 11 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Frith . Wilf . Leicester City Women sign midfielder Aimee Palmer . She Kicks . 1 August 2023.
  8. Web site: LCFC Women Confirm Lize Kop Signing . Leicester City FC . 16 August 2023.
  9. Web site: LCFC Women sign Finland international Jutta Rantala . Leicester City F.C. . 25 August 2023 . 25 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Julie Thibaud signs for LCFC Women. Leicester City FC. 31 August 2023.
  11. Web site: Deanne Rose agrees LCFC Women move. Leicester City FC. 8 September 2023.
  12. Web site: Saori Takarada Signs Pre-Contract With LCFC Women . Leicester City F.C. . 8 December 2023.
  13. Web site: LCFC Women Sign Japan International Yuka Momiki . Leicester City F.C. . 5 January 2024.
  14. Web site: Emilia Pelgander Makes Leicester Switch . Leicester City F.C. . 27 January 2024.
  15. Web site: Asmita Ale completes LCFC Women loan. Leicester City FC. 24 January 2024.
  16. Web site: Aston Villa Women squad numbers for 2023/24 . Aston Villa Football Club . 24 August 2023.
  17. Web site: LCFC Women Confirm End-Of-Season Departures . Leicester City FC.
  18. Web site: Sheffield United women announce 'full-time' plan . BBC Sport.
  19. Web site: Liverpool sign striker Flint from Leicester City . BBC Sport.
  20. Web site: Levell is a claret . Burnley Football Club . 18 August 2023.
  21. Web site: Blues sign Charlie Devlin . Birmingham City Football Club.
  22. Web site: Duo sign for Burnley FC Women . www.burnleyfootballclub.com.
  23. Web site: Molly Pike joins Saints following Leicester City exit . Daily Echo . 20 July 2023.
  24. Web site: Frith . Wilf . Sheffield United Women sign Jess Sigsworth . 21 July 2023.
  25. Web site: Former Lionesses defender McManus retires aged 30 . BBC Sport.
  26. Web site: Frith . Wilf . London City Lionesses sign midfielder Connie Scofield . 21 July 2023.
  27. Web site: Southampton FC Women sign experienced defender Jemma Purfield . www.southamptonfc.com.
  28. Web site: Ellen Jones joins the Lasses . Sunderland Association Football Club . 1 August 2023.
  29. Web site: Ebbesen . Anders . Welcome Georgia . HB Køge . da-DK . 22 July 2023.
  30. Web site: NC State women's soccer adds four freshmen to 2023 signing class . SoccerWire.
  31. Web site: LCFC Women defender Erin Simon announces retirement. Leicester City FC. 7 July 2023.
  32. Web site: Ashleigh Plumptre departs Leicester City. Leicester City FC. 14 July 2023. 13 July 2023.
  33. Web site: Ashleigh Plumptre: Former England youth international signs for Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad Ladies . Sky Sports.
  34. Web site: Demi Lambourne completes Crystal Palace loan switch. Leicester City FC. 28 September 2023.
  35. Web site: Jess Reavill links up with West Brom on dual-registration loan. Leicester City FC. 3 January 2024.
  36. Web site: Dual-Registration Loan For Holly Mears. Leicester City FC. 15 January 2024.
  37. Web site: Monique Robinson Joins Burnley On Loan. Leicester City FC. 1 February 2024.