Leicester City confirm signing of Rachel Williams from Manchester United

Rachel Williams (Leicester City)

Rachel Williams has joined Leicester City from Manchester United – returning to the club where she began her senior career.

The vastly experienced 38-year-old forward – who also has England and Olympic honours – has agreed a one-and-a-half-year contract at King Power Stadium, with the club holding an extension option.

The move also reunites her with manager Rick Passmoor, who was boss at Notts County when she spent two years there between 2015 and 2017.

Speaking to Foxes Hub following the move in quotes distributed to the media, Rachel said: “I started my career here and I’ve always said I’d like to come back. Leicester is my hometown, I absolutely love Leicester and have always followed the Foxes.

“I feel like I still have a lot to offer for the club, and the opportunity to come back is something I’ve been looking forward to doing.”

A Leicester native, Williams made her senior debut for the Foxes in 2004 after progressing through the club’s then Centre of Excellence, which she joined as a 12-year-old.

Since then she has also played for Chelsea, Birmingham City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United over the course of 16 years in the top tier. Her career has spanned the amateur, semi-professional, and fully professional era, and was a plasterer in her day job previous to turning full-time pro.

She won 13 caps for England between 2009 and 2017, and was part of the Great Britain squad at the 2012 London Olympics.

She has won two Women’s FA Cups, won in 2012 and 2023, and the 2011 WSL Golden Boot.

She has now joined up with the squad in preparation for their Women’s FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Foxes lost 1-0 to the same opponents in the Women’s Super League last weekend.

Leicester City are currently ninth in the WSL table, with two wins to their credit so far this season. They are five points ahead of Liverpool, who are bottom of the table.