West Ham United has confirmed the transfer of 21-year-old Republic of Ireland defender Jessie Stapleton to Leicester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 on Wednesday. The move ends her three-season stint with the Hammers and will allow her to seek regular first-team football.
What happened?
Stapleton’s move to Leicester City was officially confirmed by West Ham United on Wednesday. The club did not disclose a transfer fee or the length of her contract with Leicester.
Why it matters for West Ham United
The departure allows West Ham to streamline its squad ahead of the new WSL season. The club has already signed Oona Siren to a contract until 2028 after being named Hammer of the Year. West Ham also thanked the Republic of Ireland international for her contributions and wished her well.
What comes next?
Stapleton, who joined West Ham from Shelbourne in summer 2023, made only two senior appearances and spent much of her time on loan, most recently at Sunderland in 2024/25 and Nottingham Forest in 2025/26. She will now seek consistent minutes at Leicester, which is rebuilding after dropping into WSL 2. West Ham’s current league position is 18th in the Premier League with 39 points from 38 games.
