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Leicester City are set to sign striker Rachel Williams on a permanent deal from Manchester United.
The deal for Williams, 37, will see her leave United after three and a half years at the club. She was frequently utilised as an impact option from the bench by Marc Skinner and in July signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2026.
The anticipated move will mark a return to the club where Williams progressed through the academy and spent four years in the first team between 2004 and 2008 before she departed for Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Williams has made 90 appearances for United, scoring 21 goals, and was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2024 and qualified for the Champions League main draw for the first time in 2025.
Leicester are ninth in the Women’s Super League, six points clear of bottom side Liverpool, having replaced manager Amandine Miquel with Rick Passmoor on the eve of the new season.
United have already strengthened during the January window with the signings of right-back Hanna Lundkvist and forward Lea Schuller.
Skinner also confirmed on Thursday that midfielder Ella Toone will miss their opening game of 2026 against Arsenal with a hip injury and will be sidelined for a “few weeks”.
Winger Leah Galton also has an ongoing back injury while defender Gabby George will be absent for a “couple of weeks” with a calf issue.
“Tooney has a bone stress response in her hip so she will be miss a few weeks. We wish her all the best — she’s already started her physio, Tooney hates missing football but she always comes back even stronger,” Skinner told MUTV.