Everton Women will say goodbye to Justine Vanhaevermaet, Heather Payne and Sara Holmgaard when their contracts expire at the end of June.
With the current cull of playing personnel on both the men’s and women’s sides, the departures of Vanhaevermaet and Payne will probably not come as too much of a surprise to the fanbase.
The announcement of Holmgaard, however, may well just raise some eyebrows given the Dane’s form last season as well as her almost telepathic connection with twin sister, Karen.
The Holmgaards joined the Blues in August 2022, with Sara spending the first half of the season on loan before making her debut for the Toffees in January 2023.
Establishing the left-back position as her own, the 26-year-old made 19 appearances in the WSL last term, scoring three goals and registering four assists.
Manchester City FC v Everton FC - Barclays Women’s Super League Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Vanhaevermaet penned a two-year deal with the Club in August 2023 and played all but one Women’s Super League matches last season.
The Belgian operated both at the heart of defence and in midfield, and opened the scoring in the Blues’ 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace.
But at the age of 33 and with the emergence of homegrown stars like Issy Hobson, Vanhaevermaet’s on-field time may become less frequent, something both Brian Sorensen and the former Reading star will have taken into consideration.
Republic of Ireland star Payne made the move to L4 during the same window as Vanhaevermaet, following four years in the American college system.
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur - The Adobe Women’s FA Cup Fourth Round Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images
The 25-year-old scored her only goal of the 2024/25 season as the Blues progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, but her versatility has often worked against her regarding a regular place in the starting XI.
With the transfer window now open and the Friedkin Group’s willingness to back Sorensen, as proved with the six January signings, it is certain that new recruits will arrive soon.
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