Sunderland Women have released their retained list
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Eleanor Dale of Sunderland receives medical treatment, before leaving the pitch against Birmingham City
Sunderland Women have signed up five players to new contracts ahead of the 2025-26 season but released seven as they announced their retained list.
Eleanor Dale, Katie Kitching, Libbi McInnes, Katy Watson and Ellen Jones have all penned new deals on Wearside as the club gears up for a promotion push.
However, Grace Ede, Megan Borthwick, Jenna Dear, Mary McAteer and Amy Goddard have been let go, while Jessie Stapleton and Keira Flannery will both return to their parent club West Ham.
The move comes after the announcement that the structure of the WSL is changing, offering Sunderland and their north east neighbours Newcastle United and Durham Women a better chance at promotion.
Clubs across the top two tiers voted in favour of expanding the top division from the 2026/27 season. That means there is the potential for three teams to win promotion from the 12-strong Women’s Championship next season.
The top two will go up automatically with the third-placed side going into a play-off against the team who finishes second bottom in the Super League.
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It means a number of Championship sides are set to invest heavily this summer in a bid to push for the extra promotion slots. Newcastle United Women have already announced their retained list with 12 significant departures.
Sunderland, who finished seventh last season, have now acted accordingly themselves, ensuring that they have tied down their key players.
Dale had an exceptional first season following her arrival last summer, scoring 13 goals and registering two assists in all competitions before being struck down with injury, while 2024-25 Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season winners Kitching and McInnes both extend their stay in red and white.
After making her way through the academy, making her debut in October 2021 and playing 60 times for the first-team, Ede will be leaving the Club.
Megan Borthwick, Jenna Dear, Mary McAteer and Amy Goddard will also be leaving Sunderland after playing a big part in the squad over the last few seasons.
Jessie Stapleton and Keira Flannery will both return to their parent club West Ham following the expiration of their loan deals after playing integral roles throughout the 2024-25 season.
Megan Beer has retired from professional football after a stellar career, playing 124 times in red and white across 11 seasons, with Grace McCatty also retiring.
Sunderland head coach Mel Reay spoke at the end of last season to confirm there would be a number of new signings coming in.
She said: “There'll be some good new additions. We're probably looking at about five new recruits to strengthen the team but we'll see as the off-season progresses what we need down the line.
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"Those conversations have already started behind the scenes. We're in a good place with the squad we have.”
Sunderland's retained list: Demi Lambourne, Louise Griffiths, Emily Scarr, Eleanor Dale, Katie Kitching, Jessica Brown, Emily Cassap, Natasha Fenton, Mary Corbyn, Libbi McInnes, Ellen Jones, Marissa Sheva, Katy Watson, Brianna Westrup