Newcastle United Target Leanne Kiernan from Liverpool
Newcastle United are in advanced talks to prise Republic of Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan away from Liverpool, in a move that would underline the club’s growing ambition in the second tier.
The 27-year-old still has more than a year left on her Liverpool deal, meaning Newcastle will have to put money on the table to get it done. For a Championship side, that is a statement in itself.
Proven scorer on the move
Kiernan has been at Liverpool for five years, signing an extension in 2025, and her numbers tell the story of a player who delivers when trusted. She has scored 23 goals in 76 appearances for the Reds and was central to their charge to the WSL 2 title in 2022, finishing that season as the club’s top scorer with 14 goals.
That campaign showcased the sharp, direct forward Liverpool thought they were getting when they brought her in from West Ham, where she had already made over 40 WSL appearances after breaking through at Shelbourne.
On the international stage, Kiernan has 38 caps for the Republic of Ireland since her debut in 2017, adding experience and resilience shaped across club and country.
Squeezed out at Liverpool
The story of the last year has been different. Kiernan struggled for minutes under Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor, starting just once in the WSL before heading out on loan to Nottingham Forest in January for the second half of the season.
Just as she fought for a route back into the side, competition up front intensified again. Liverpool have strengthened their attacking options this summer with the arrival of Germany forward Vivien Endemann from Wolfsburg, a signing that pushed Kiernan further down the pecking order.
For a player in her prime, a fresh stage now looks like the logical next step.
Newcastle’s intent is clear
That stage may well be Newcastle. The second-tier club have already been busy, with six additions in a lively transfer window as they gear up for a serious tilt at the WSL 2 title.
Kiernan would add exactly what promotion-chasing sides crave: goals, mobility, and the know-how of a player who has already helped drag a team out of this division. She has done it once with Liverpool. Newcastle are betting she can help them do it next.
If the deal is completed, it will not just be another signing. It will be a clear signal that Newcastle intend to climb, and quickly.
