Reading Women confirmed eight players will depart the club. Long serving duo Molly Bartrip and Lauren Bruton, goalkeeper Erin Nayler and youngsters Molly Childerhouse and Silvana Flores have all been released.

They join Fara Williams, who announced her retirement from professional football, and Angharad James who had signed a pre-contract agreement with North Carolina Courage.

Norwegian defender Kristine Leine made it an eighth departure after turning down a new contract offer to return home.

Bartrip has been a Royal since 2014 spending the duration of her senior career with the Berkshire side after signing from Arsenal. The 24-year-old defender was a mainstay at the back this season after previous injury struggles.

Bruton moves to pastures new after another injury hit campaign. The forward who has one cap for England spent the close of the season on the sidelines. The 28-year-old joined the Royals in 2013 and amassed over 60 appearances.

Both Bartrip and Bruton helped Reading secure the WSL2 title and promotion to the top division of the women’s game.

New Zealand stopper, Nayler only joined the club at the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign but failed to challenge Player of the Season Grace Moloney for the number 1 jersey. Her sole appearance came in a disappointing 3-0 loss away at West Ham in the Continental Cup.

Childerhouse was a product of the Reading FC academy having made her way through the RTC pathway. She failed to make her senior debut but was a regular unused substitute for the senior team throughout this campaign.

Silvana Flores, a Mexican international made the move to Reading in February 2021 but did not make an appearance for Kelly Chambers’ side after her move from Chelsea.

Leine was an important player in the defence with the centre back having a stellar first season in the heart of the backline during the 2019/20 season. She was used as a makeshift right back last season and now returns home to pursue her future.

Angharad James played every minute of every competition for both club and country last season. The Welsh midfielder was an ever present since joining Reading in 2019 and now faces an exciting adventure in the NWSL with North Carolina Courage.

Finally, Fara Williams, what is there to say? England’s most capped player hangs up her boots after a fantastic career across the top tier of women’s football. Williams joined Reading in 2017 in a headline transfer and brought a level of calm and consistency to the Royals midfield.

Off the pitch, Marketing Manager Tom Holmes (no, not the first team defender) also leaves his position at the club.

We wish all the leavers the best in their future endeavours with a big reshuffle starting at the club.