Rachel Williams joins Burnley after Leicester’s drop to WSL2

Former England and Team GB international Rachel Williams has signed a one-year contract with newly promoted Women’s Super League 2 side Burnley, moving from relegated Leicester City. The 38-year-old forward arrives at the Clarets after Leicester’s drop from the top flight last season.

Williams will be the eighth club of her career, having begun at her girlhood side Leicester and representing the Foxes on three separate occasions. Her résumé also includes spells with Doncaster Rovers Belles, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, underscoring a breadth of experience across English women’s football.

She has lifted the FA Cup with both Birmingham City and Manchester United and reached the final three times with United, adding a proven winning mentality to Burnley’s squad. These domestic honours complement her extensive club background.

On the international stage, Williams earned 15 caps for England and was selected for Hope Powell’s Team GB squad for the 2012 London Olympics. Her exposure to major tournaments brings valuable insight to a side new to WSL2.

Jackie Bachteler’s Burnley pursued Williams for her admirable pedigree, hoping her experience will help the club push on after a historic promotion from the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. The club’s ambition is to establish itself in the second tier and avoid an immediate return to the lower division.

Burnley earned their place in WSL2 by finishing top of the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division last season, securing a historic first-time entry into the second tier of the women’s football pyramid. The promotion marks a milestone for the Clarets, who now face a new level of competition.

Williams’ arrival gives Burnley a seasoned forward for their maiden campaign, while she gains a fresh platform to showcase her talent in the league she helped shape.

“It’s exciting to be back up north now with a new challenge,” Williams said. “Burnley are a club that have been promoted, so it’s a first for both of us being in this league and I’m looking forward to it. Speaking to Jackie, I was really impressed with her and the club’s vision.”