Leicester City Women will open their Barclays Women's Super League 2 campaign with an away fixture against Sheffield United Women on Sunday, 6th September. This news comes as former promotion play-off opponents Charlton Athletic have confirmed the permanent signing of midfielder Keira Flannery, according to reports from herfootballhub.com.
When is Leicester City Women's first match?
Sheffield United's official website announced the season opener this week. The match is scheduled for Bramall Lane, with tickets priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. This fixture marks the official start of the competitive calendar for Leicester, who will be looking to build momentum from the first whistle. Fans can view the full schedule on our dedicated fixtures page to plan their support for the season ahead.
Leicester's squad, which can be reviewed on our squad page, will face a Sheffield United side eager to start their home campaign strongly. The Foxes' preparation for this match will be key, as early points can set the tone for the entire WSL2 season. The team's performance data from last season is available for analysis on our stats section.
What happened with Charlton Athletic's promotion winner?
Charlton Athletic, who defeated Leicester City in last season's dramatic promotion/relegation play-off final, have made a significant squad move. Her Football Hub reports that midfielder Keira Flannery has joined the Addicks on a permanent transfer from West Ham United. The 20-year-old spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Charlton, playing in all 22 of their WSL2 league matches.
Flannery was a regular starter for Charlton throughout their successful campaign, which culminated in that play-off victory at The Valley. Unfortunately for the midfielder, an ankle injury ruled her out of the decisive final against Leicester City. She watched from the sidelines as her teammates eventually secured promotion via a penalty shootout. Despite missing the final, her contributions across the season were deemed vital enough for Charlton to secure her signature permanently.
How did Keira Flannery perform last season?
During her loan spell, Flannery established herself as a central figure in Charlton's midfield. Her consistent presence was a factor in the team finishing third in the WSL2 table, earning them a place in the inaugural promotion play-offs. The England youth international, who has captained her country at under-17 level, brought valuable experience from previous loans at Reading and Sunderland.
Her development path saw her make her Women's Super League debut for West Ham against Chelsea in September 2022, just four days after her 17th birthday. The permanent move to Charlton represents the next chapter in her career, as she steps into the WSL with a club she helped ascend. Current WSL standings, including Charlton's position, can be tracked on our standings page.
What's next for Leicester City Women?
The immediate focus for Leicester is squarely on that opening day trip to Sheffield. A positive result would provide an ideal platform for their WSL2 ambitions this season. The match represents the first competitive test for the squad following their pre-season preparations.
Looking at the broader picture, the confirmation of Flannery's move to a newly-promoted rival underscores the competitive nature of the women's football landscape. Leicester's own campaign will be built on consistency and capitalizing on key moments, starting with their first fixture. The club will be aiming to navigate a successful season and potentially put themselves in contention for a different outcome than last year's play-off finale.
