Leicester commits to women's game with launch of new professional team

Leicester City has launched a professional women's team starting next season as part of its long-term strategy to develop young talent in the region.

King Power International, Leicester's parent company, has agreed to acquire the independently established Leicester City Women's Football Club, which was formed in 2004.

Leicester City has launched a professional women's team starting next season as part of its long-term strategy to develop young talent in the region, the Premier League club announced on Saturday.

King Power International, Leicester's parent company, has agreed to acquire the independently established Leicester City Women's Football Club, which was formed in 2004.

The women's outfit will join the men's football operations after the Football Association approved the transfer of the team's licence to play in the Women's Championship.

Women's team general manager Jade Morgan, first-team manager Jonathan Morgan, 12 members of the playing squad and several members of the support staff will be retained as part of the new full-time setup.

 

“The introduction of a women's team embedded within the club has been an ambition of ours for some time and today it can start to be realised,” Leicester City chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said in a statement.

“The club's co-operation with LCWFC since 2004 has been a valuable gateway to the women's game.

“We want to build on the recent success of women's football to inspire a generation of young girls and to ensure opportunities exist for the gifted among them to have a future in the game.”

Eleven new additions have been made to the women's squad as they prepare for the 2020-21 Championship season, which begins on the weekend of Sept. 5-6.