Lucy Staniforth announces retirement from football

Former England women’s international Lucy Staniforth has revealed she will retire from football at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The York-born midfielder represented the Lionesses 17 times and scored two goals, having progressed through the development teams with caps at WU17, WU19, WU20 and WU23 level too.

She was part of the Young Lionesses squad who finished fourth at the 2008 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup in New Zealand, where she scored an impressive free-kick in the game with Japan, before adding a winners’ medal as part of the England WU19 squad which won the UEFA Women’s U19 EURO in Belarus in 2009.

Her first senior call-up came in 2018, before she made her debut in September of that year when she played against Kazakhstan and capped a memorable day with a goal.

And her second Lionesses goal helped England to victory in the final of the 2019 SheBelieves Cup when she opened the scoring in an eventual 3-0 win over Japan.

Staniforth was selected for the 2019 World Cup in France, and then won a place in current head coach Sarina Wiegman's squads, including being in the provisional squad list for EURO 2022 and as a standby player as the Lionesses prepared for the 2023 World Cup in Australia.

Her final cap came in the game with Northern Ireland in October 2021, shortly after Wiegman had taken charge of the national team.

After starting her domestic career with Sunderland, Staniforth went on to play for the likes of Lincoln Ladies, Bristol Academy, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Manchester United and Villa, winning the 2013 WSL title during her time at Anfield as well as finishing as a Women’s FA Cup runner-up in 2009 and 2013.

“Lucy’s contribution to the game deserves recognition, and she can be very proud of everything she has achieved,” said England head coach Sarina Wiegman.

“Her journey reflects her determination and passion for the game. She played at the highest level both internationally and domestically, and those achievements will stay with her long after she steps away from the pitch.

“Since I have known Lucy, she always approached her role with professionalism and the right values, and she was a positive presence around the squad, particularly ahead of EURO 2022 and the World Cup in 2023.

"I look forward to celebrating her at a future home game and we all wish her every success in her next chapter.”