Newcastle United Target Leanne Kiernan from Liverpool

Newcastle United are in advanced talks to sign Republic of Ireland forward Leanne Kiernan from Liverpool, in what would be one of the most eye-catching deals of the Championship summer.

The 27-year-old still has more than a year left on her Liverpool contract, so any agreement will require a fee. For a second-tier club, that is a clear show of intent. Newcastle are not just building a squad; they are buying proven top-level goals.

A proven scorer on the move

Kiernan has spent five years at Liverpool, signing an extension in 2025 and helping to drag the club back into the top flight. She scored 23 goals in 76 appearances for the Reds, and when Liverpool won the WSL 2 title in 2022, she stood at the centre of it all, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 14 league goals.

That campaign underlined what she offers at her best: relentless running, sharp movement off the shoulder, and a ruthless streak in front of goal. In a tight promotion race, those qualities can be the difference between staying in the pack and breaking clear.

Her journey to Merseyside came via West Ham, where she made more than 40 WSL appearances after emerging at Shelbourne. The step from Ireland to England never fazed her. Nor did the international stage. Since her debut in 2017, Kiernan has earned 38 caps for the Republic of Ireland, a regular presence in a side that has grown in profile and expectation.

Squeezed out at Liverpool

The story at Liverpool recently has been less straightforward. Under boss Gareth Taylor, Kiernan has struggled for minutes, starting just once in the WSL last season before heading out on loan to Nottingham Forest in January.

That loan was a reset, a chance to play, to shake off rust and remind people what she can do. But back at Liverpool, the competition has only intensified. Germany forward Vivien Endemann has arrived from Wolfsburg this summer, adding another high-calibre option to an already crowded attacking line.

For a player in her prime, watching from the bench is not a long-term plan. The timing of a move now feels decisive.

Newcastle’s ambition laid bare

Newcastle, meanwhile, are moving aggressively. Six signings are already through the door as they gear up to challenge for the WSL 2 title. Kiernan would not be a luxury addition. She would be a focal point.

Her record in the second tier speaks for itself. She has already fired a team to promotion from this division and knows the grind of a long campaign, the tight away grounds, the weeks when performances matter more than pretty football.

Newcastle want to be out of this league quickly. Bringing in a forward with a proven Championship title on her CV sends a message to the rest of the division: they are not here to make up the numbers.

If the deal gets done, Kiernan swaps the fight for minutes at Liverpool for the responsibility of leading a promotion charge in black and white. For club and player, it feels like a crossroads.