Southampton announce signing of former Leicester midfielder

SAINTS FC Women have announced the signing of Molly Pike following her departure from Leicester City.

Pike played 18 games for the Foxes in the Women’s Super League last season as they finished in 10th place.

Having started her footballing journey on the south coast with the Hampshire FA, the 22 year old rose through the ranks at Chelsea.

She signed her first professional contract with Everton ahead of the 2019-20 WSL season, before going on to play for Bristol City and Leicester.

Speaking on her move to Southampton, Pike said: “I’m really excited. The club’s ambition is amazing, and I’m really excited to be a part of that.

“The style of football that Southampton plays suits me completely and it’s back down south, close to home, which is also nice.”

Pike arrives with a wealth of experience at the top level of women’s football having made 67 career appearances in the WSL.

A youth international for England, Pike captained the Under-19s and was also part of the Under-23s squad.

Head Coach Marieanne Spacey-Cale was quick to praise the newest addition and what she’ll bring to the squad: “We are delighted to welcome Molly to the club.

“Although still young Molly has a great deal of experience of playing in the WSL and internationally.

“On the pitch, she will bring energy and quality with the ball.”

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As Harvey Barnes finalises his transfer from Leicester City to Newcastle United, the feeling is a bittersweet one.

The winger, who grew up in the south Leicestershire village of Countesthorpe, joined the club as a nine-year-old in June 2007 and is now moving on 16 years later.

Those years, almost two thirds of Barnes’ life, have been tarnished in the eyes of many by relegation last season. As a member of that squad, Barnes must share responsibility, he cannot solely be to blame for the club’s fate. Nor can he criticised for the timing of his departure.

When a fanbase suffers something as heart-breaking as a relegation, there are often attempts out of anger to pick holes and find faults with players. Barnes, like many of his teammates, has suffered unwarranted criticism on social media.

Many who have known Barnes, both professionally and personally, have not one bad word to say about him. He has always cared about Leicester City and, while perhaps not the most vocal or animated at times, wears his heart on his sleeve.

With relegation wage cuts across the squad, and fatherhood now just months away, nobody can begrudge a young man wanting to do the best for his family financially. And any young footballer dreams of playing in the Champions League.

Nor can you begrudge Leicester wanting to sell for £38million, rising to £40million. Under Financial Fair Play, that will go down as pure profit because Barnes is an academy graduate. A healthy chunk of that money will be reinvested into the squad rebuild led by Enzo Maresca.

Barnes has approached his exit, both privately and publicly, in a professional manner. City have seen examples of players who have handled their exits badly in recent years, and Barnes is certainly not one of them.

 

 

While some of the money City receive will be spent on the squad, there may already be a player on the books who can step up and fill Barnes’ boots.

The next generation of academy graduates are ready to step up. The young man who could soon fill Barnes’ number seven shirt is Will Alves. While currently recovering from a serious ACL injury suffered last season, Alves is well on his way to the top.

He is considered by many, perhaps alongside Sammy Braybrooke, as the most exciting young player at the club. The England under-18 international has already played for the first team.

His dangerous, fast feet can unlock defences with ease on his best day. He is a joy to watch when on his finest form, and can grow into senior football. The drop to the Championship, with such a highly-regarded coach as Maresca at the helm, could prove a blessing in disguise for Alves’ career.

While Leicester will yet have money to spend in the transfer market, Alves could step up – though not from the start of the season – and fill the boots of Harvey Barnes as the Leicester City academy continues to prove itself as one of the best.