Leicester City Women have signed Republic of Ireland internationals Jessie Stapleton and Jessica Ziu from West Ham on undisclosed fees. The versatile defender Stapleton, 21, has agreed a three-year deal while midfielder Ziu, 24, has signed a two-year contract as the club looks to rebuild after relegation from the Women's Super League.
Stapleton, who can also play in midfield, struggled to break into West Ham's team but gained experience through loan spells at Reading, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest. She said she is excited to join a club with ambition and believes Leicester City Women can help her grow as a player while she aims to help the team return to where it belongs.
Ziu spent four years at West Ham, making 23 appearances, and spent six months on loan at Bristol City during the first half of last season. She praised the club's plan and structure, saying she cannot wait to wear the jersey and play in front of the fans at King Power Stadium.
The signings come shortly after Ashleigh Neville departed for Charlton Athletic on a two-year deal, having joined Leicester City Women in January on a one-and-a-half-year contract before their relegation play-off defeat by Charlton in May. It is believed there was no release clause in Neville's contract relating to relegation, and a mutual termination was not agreed, suggesting a fee was likely paid by Charlton.
Leicester City Women will look to integrate the new signings into their squad as they prepare for the upcoming Championship campaign, with fixtures available on our fixtures page and further details on the current squad accessible via our squad page. The club's recent activity reflects a strategic focus on adding youth and versatility ahead of their push for an immediate return to the top flight.
These acquisitions signal Leicester City Women's intent to strengthen key areas of the pitch, with Stapleton offering defensive flexibility and Ziu adding creativity in midfield, as the club aims to build a competitive squad capable of challenging for promotion.
