Leicester City Women are undergoing a significant overhaul following their relegation from the Women's Super League to WSL 2 in May, but captain Sam Tierney has chosen to stay and lead the club's revival, signing a new contract that runs until 2028.
The drop down a division triggered a wave of departures at the King Power Stadium, with 14 players leaving the club during the summer window, including nine who were part of the squad beaten by Charlton Athletic in the play-offs. Goalkeeper Janina Leitzig moved to Manchester United, while attacking players Hannah Cain, Noemie Mouchon and Jutta Rantala all joined Everton.
Amid the exodus, Tierney's decision to extend her stay stands out. The 27-year-old, who joined from Sheffield United in 2020, is Leicester's longest-serving player with 151 appearances to her name. She has experienced promotion to the WSL, a Women's FA Cup semi-final run in 2024, and seven different managers during her time at the club.
"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. She acknowledged the club's struggles but expressed belief in its long-term potential, adding that Leicester "gets a bit of a bad rep" despite being "a family kind of club" going through a period of transition.
Last season proved disastrous for Leicester, who managed only two wins in 22 WSL matches and finished with a goal difference of -41. The struggles mirrored those of the men's team, who were also relegated, this time to League One. The poor campaign raised doubts about the women's side continuing to play at King Power Stadium and whether financial support would be reduced.
Instead, the club opted to let departing players move on for transfer fees, which have been reinvested into rebuilding the squad. Six new signings have already arrived, and alongside Tierney, three other players have agreed contract renewals.
Tierney says she wants Leicester to become a club that attracts and retains talent rather than losing players during difficult periods. "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," she said, pointing to the club's infrastructure development since she arrived, when the team trained on a public park rather than the men's Belvoir Drive facility.
While stressing that transformation "won't happen overnight," Tierney's ambition is for Leicester to establish itself as a sustainable WSL club rather than repeatedly bouncing between divisions. "The moment that I leave, I want Leicester to be in a better position than when I started here," she said.
Leicester's preparations for the new campaign are already under way, with pre-season fixtures producing a win over Rugby Borough, a draw with Manchester United and a defeat to Liverpool. The club will begin their WSL 2 campaign away to Sheffield United on 6 September.
Tierney is hopeful this season can bring more enjoyment after enduring the pressures of fighting against relegation, noting that such struggles are often underestimated by those outside the club. "We want to be an exciting team, we want to be a team on the ball, we want to be a team that's difficult to beat and we want to surprise some people," she said, while stressing that promotion must come alongside sustainable progress. "We're going to make sure we're ready to challenge at the top of this league, get promoted and stay in the WSL for years to come."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.