West Ham confirm seven women’s team departures ahead of summer rebuild | OneFootball

West Ham United have confirmed that Shelina Zadorsky, Verena Hanshaw, Camila Sáez, Soraya Walsh and Emily Taylor-Brown will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June.

Defender Estelle Cascarino is also set to return to Juventus following the end of her loan spell, while captain Katrina Gorry’s previously announced departure brings the number of exits to seven.

The departures signal the start of a major rebuild under head coach Rita Guarino ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Saying goodbye to a West Ham fan favourite

Few exits will hit fans harder than Zadorsky’s. The Canadian international spent two-and-a-half seasons in East London and became one of the team’s leaders on and off the pitch.

West Ham first signed her on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2024 before making the move permanent six months later. The club named her vice-captain ahead of the 2024/25 season, and she went on to play a key role in one of West Ham’s strongest campaigns in the Women’s Super League.

Zadorsky made 50 appearances in all competitions and scored once against Southampton in the League Cup in December 2024. She also earned the club’s Players’ Project Award for her work with the West Ham Foundation. The Olympic gold medalist now enters the summer as one of the market’s most experienced free agents.

Rounding out the summer exits

Hanshaw also leaves after making an immediate impact in East London. The Austrian international joined from AS Roma in January 2025 and quickly became a regular starter. She registered three assists in her first 12 matches and finished her spell at the club with 33 appearances, two assists and a goal against Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Sáez departs after two seasons with the Hammers. The Chilean made 14 appearances in her first season before spending last year on loan at Bristol City. She impressed there with two goals and two assists in 18 appearances.

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Academy products Walsh and Taylor-Brown will also move on. Walsh made one senior appearance during her four years at the club and gained valuable experience through loan spells at Billericay Town, Watford and Hashtag United.

Taylor-Brown made two senior appearances before joining AFC Wimbledon on loan for the second half of last season. She helped the Dons avoid relegation and reach the Capital Women’s Cup final.

Estelle Cascarino’s stay in East London also comes to an end after a productive six-month loan spell from Juventus. The French international made 12 appearances and played an important role in a defence that recorded four clean sheets during her time at the club. One of her standout moments came in April when she delivered a POTM performance in a 1-0 victory away at Liverpool.

Guarino begins the rebuild

With Gorry, Zadorsky and Hanshaw all departing, West Ham lose a significant amount of experience and leadership this summer. Guarino now faces a crucial transfer window as she begins to reshape her squad.

For now, though, the club’s focus is on saying goodbye to a group of players who helped carry West Ham through a transformative period. As one chapter closes in East London, another is only just beginning.

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