Newcastle United have announced the signing of defender Rachel McLauchlan. It comes after a two-year spell with Brighton and Hove Albion.
The club have announced that her move is for an undisclosed fee. She has spent time at many SWPL clubs, as well as appearing internationally for Scotland.
Previous Career
The 29-year-old winger began her career in her home country with Inverness City. She has played for clubs such as Rangers, Glasgow City and Hibernian.
During her time in Scotland, the experienced player secured multiple honours, including five Scottish Women’s Premier League titles and four Scottish Cups.
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Most recently, she played for Brighton and Hove Albion after moving on a free transfer. She made 51 appearances for the Seagulls, but has now chosen to move to Newcastle as they aim for promotion to the WSL.
International Career
In her youth, McLachlan was selected for the U17 and U19 Scottish teams. She made her debut for the senior team in 2016, with a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands.
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The defender was then called up for the Euro 2017 squad. She started for the team during their second group match against Portugal.
She has since made 35 caps for the Scottish international team, and has recently been playing in the Women’s Euros 2027 qualifiers.
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A Move to Newcastle
Following a decorated career so far, the 29-year-old has chosen to sign for the Magpies. She has spoken on her excitement for the move:
“I’m really excited to get started. I’m raring to go, it’s a big opportunity and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.
“I want to come here and help the team get promoted. Tanya spoke so highly of what the club wants to do and that was a big motivation for me to come here.”
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Manager Tanya Oxtoby also spoke highly of the defender:
“Rachel is an experienced player at both club and international level, and understands what it takes to compete for and win league titles.
“She is a brilliant defender that adds versatility to the full back position, while also possessing the ability to provide effective support to the attack.”
A Good Choice For Newcastle?
After playing for multiple different clubs, as well as making her WSL debut for Brighton and Hove Albion, McLauchlan can bring experience to the Newcastle squad.
A hard-working player like McLauchlan can bring the dedication needed to help Newcastle climb the ranks. She has demonstrated this throughout both her early and international career.
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Time will tell if the 29-year-old can find her fit within the Newcastle squad, however her proven creativity should make her a good selection for any team looking to enhance their defence.
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