Key Points
- Birmingham City Women have confirmed a series of departures following their promotion to the Women’s Super League.
- Republic of Ireland internationals Lucy Quinn and Lily Agg are among the players leaving the club.
- A separate report says 12 players were set to move on during the summer, including Ellie Mason, Gemma Lawley, Jade Pennock and Ivana Fuso.
- Another update stated that seven Under-21 players would also leave when their contracts expired, including Layla Banaras and Vienna Tokam.
- The departures form part of a wider squad reset as the club prepares for life in the top flight.
- Birmingham City’s announcements have been reported across several football outlets in May 2025 and May 2026, reflecting a significant period of change for the women’s team.
Birmingham City FC(Birmingham Express)May 18, 2026-Birmingham City have confirmed a major clear-out of their women’s squad after securing promotion to the Women’s Super League, with several senior players and academy prospects set to leave the club. The changes, reported across multiple outlets, point to a broad reshaping of the squad ahead of the next campaign.
What has Birmingham City confirmed?
Birmingham City Women have announced that a number of players will depart as the club adjusts its squad following promotion, according to reports carried by Her Football Hub and The42. The most prominent exits mentioned in coverage include Lucy Quinn and Lily Agg, both of whom are Republic of Ireland internationals.
One report also said that 12 players were expected to leave in the summer, naming Ellie Mason, Gemma Lawley, Jade Pennock, Libby Smith, Katie Dungate, Louanne Worsey, Cho So-Hyun, Charlie Devlin, Abbi Jenner, Ivana Fuso, Choe Yu-ri and Charlotte Clarke. Another update added that seven Under-21 players would also move on when their contracts expired, including Layla Banaras, Vienna Tokam, Millie Pullen, Lacey Hughes, Izzy Williams, Abbey Beresford and Imogen Poile.
Taken together, the reports indicate that Birmingham City are not only changing their first-team group but also trimming their youth ranks. That suggests a wider squad reshaping rather than a single set of routine out-of-contract departures.
Who is leaving the club?
The most recent reporting highlights Lucy Quinn and Lily Agg as two of the biggest exits, with The42 describing them as among eight players leaving the WSL 2 champions at the end of their contracts. Her Football Hub also identified Christie Harrison-Murray as one of the notable departures, alongside Quinn.
The earlier list of 12 players included a mix of senior professionals and established first-team options, such as Ellie Mason, Gemma Lawley, Jade Pennock, Libby Smith, Katie Dungate, Louanne Worsey, Cho So-Hyun, Charlie Devlin, Abbi Jenner, Ivana Fuso, Choe Yu-ri and Charlotte Clarke. That breadth matters because it shows the club has not limited the changes to one position group or one age bracket.
The Under-21 departures add another layer to the reshuffle, with Birmingham also confirming that several young players would move on when their contracts expired. This points to a transition affecting both immediate senior depth and longer-term development planning.
Why is this happening now?
The timing is linked to Birmingham City’s promotion to the Women’s Super League, which naturally raises the need for a squad capable of competing at a higher level. Clubs moving up often reassess contracts, player roles and recruitment targets once the season ends.
In this case, the departures suggest that Birmingham are preparing to refresh the squad rather than simply carry it over intact. That can involve balancing experience, physical demands and the standard required in the top division.
The reports did not indicate that every departure was linked to performance or selection issues, and they did not provide detailed individual reasons for each exit. What is clear is that contract expiry and summer squad planning are central to the changes.
How have the departures been reported?
Her Football Hub reported that Birmingham City confirmed major departures after promotion, naming Lucy Quinn and Christie Harrison-Murray among the biggest exits. The42 reported that Quinn and Lily Agg were leaving the club and described them as part of a group of eight departing players.
OneFootball carried the earlier report that 12 players would leave in the summer, listing a wider group of first-team names. FA WSL Full Time later reported that seven Under-21 players would also move on.
Because these reports were published at different points and focus on different squad groups, they should be read together as parts of the same broader transition rather than as competing versions of events. The combined picture is one of a club undergoing substantial squad turnover after promotion.
What does this mean for Birmingham?
Birmingham City’s promotion means the club must be more demanding in recruitment, retention and squad balance if it wants to compete successfully in the Women’s Super League. Losing a large number of players at once can create short-term disruption, especially if several were regulars or squad leaders.
At the same time, such changes can also free space for new arrivals and give the club a chance to reshape the dressing room for the next level. That is particularly relevant when a team has moved up from a lower division and must quickly adapt to stronger opposition.
For Birmingham supporters, the immediate effect is likely to be a summer of rebuilding rather than continuity. The key question now is how quickly the club can replace outgoing players with proven additions suited to WSL football.
Background of the development
Birmingham City Women have spent recent seasons rebuilding their standing and reached a point where promotion placed them back into the Women’s Super League spotlight. Once promotion was secured, the club entered the usual summer review period in which contracts are assessed and squad plans are finalised.
The departures reported in May 2025 and May 2026 show that the transition has involved both senior players and youth prospects. In football terms, that is often how a promoted side prepares for a higher level: by refreshing personnel, reducing overlap and making room for new signings.
Prediction for supporters
For Birmingham City supporters, this development is likely to mean a more unsettled summer but also the possibility of a stronger squad if recruitment is handled well. Fans can expect further transfer activity and more turnover before the new season begins, because the club will need to fill the gaps left by the departing players.
If Birmingham replace experience with players suited to WSL intensity, the changes could help the club stabilise after promotion. If recruitment takes longer than expected, the large number of exits could make the opening months of the season more difficult.
