Sunderland Women to overhaul squad as eight exits confirmed amid Bay Collective takeover wait | OneFootball

Sunderland Women will overhaul their squad this summer after confirming eight departures, including long-serving defender Louise Griffiths and 2025 young player of the year Libbi McInnes.

According to Sunderland Echo, last season’s senior goalkeepers Demi Lambourne and Grace Moloney will depart alongside forward Ellen Jones, while Hannah Greenwood, Jamie Finn and Reanna Blades also move on after one campaign.

New deals have recently been signed by forwards Katy Watson and Emily Scarr and midfielder Natasha Fenton. Sunderland face a wait to see whether Jessica Brown and Eleanor Dale accept offers, and as it stands the pair are out of contract this summer.

Several academy graduates will step up on first professional terms, but further signings will still be required. The US group Bay Collective await takeover approval, which will pave the way for significant investment and backroom hires, with an emphasis on sustainable development rather than a radical overhaul.

Head coach Mel Reay has called the development positive and exciting, but said league ratification is still pending and she cannot add more for now. She noted productive conversations with key figures and praised the behind-the-scenes work enabling the move.

Loanees Mared Griffiths and Caragh Hamilton have returned to Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, leaving 10 senior players under contract and five youngsters on professional deals. Sunderland finished eighth in WSL 2 last term, will continue at the Academy of Light once the takeover is approved, retain a minority stake, and aim to kick on under Bay Collective’s ownership next season.

Source: Sunderland Echo