
Everton confirm Heather Payne will leave club this month
Everton have confirmed that Republic of Ireland international Heather Payne will leave the Women's Super League club when her contract expires at the end of the month.
The versatile 25-year-old, who is not in Carla Ward's Irish squad for this month's friendlies in the USA having been hampered by injury, has been at the Toffees since August 2023 after spending four years in the US collegiate system with Florida State Seminoles.
The Ballinasloe native won Everton's Young Player of the Season award in her debut campaign before making another 17 appearances last season.
"Heather has worked tirelessly and her improvement as a player, and a person, is clear to see. Her attitude and desire to win games has helped us massively throughout my time as head coach," said Everton head coach Brian Sorensen of the former Peamount United player as her impending exit was confirmed.
Payne's Ireland team-mate, goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, remains part of the club's first team and is contracted until June 2026.
The Everton women's will be , with the men's side moving to the newly-built stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.
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Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Farrell throws down the gauntlet as opportunity beckons for chosen Lions
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We're lucky to have the quality of the Argentinian side to come over and test that. It's going to be a fantastic occasion." All four nations will be represented in this opening match but for the half-dozen Irishmen on display, it is a particular moment of pride to represent the Lions in their first ever match on Irish soil. There are some combinations within the starting line-up which already have the look of Test partnerships with Bundee Aki named at inside centre alongside Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu, while Itoje partners his 2021 Test team-mate Tadhg Beirne in the second row. There is also continuity in the shape of a Northampton Saints and England half-back partnership in scrum-half Alex Mitchell and fly-half Fin Smith, whose fellow national playmaker Marcus Smith is named at full-back with another Saint in Tommy Freeman on the right wing, Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe occupying the left wing. 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The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
Ireland suffer comprehensive defeat to Australia
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The 42
10 hours ago
- The 42
Akipulotu pairing catches the eye in English-influenced Lions side
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