Women’s retained list published for 2026

The club can confirm that seven out-of-contract players, Atlanta Primus, Tara Bourne, Aimee Palmer, Kiera Sena, Isabel Watts, Ella Pettit, and Esta Roberts will all be departing the club this summer.

After a season as club captain, Atlanta Primus’ three-year stay on the south coast comes to an end with 46 appearances to her name, along with eight goals and six assists.

Both Tara Bourne and Aimee Palmer depart after two years at the club, with centre-back Bourne making 49 appearances and registering three goals and five assists, whilst midfielder Palmer recorded five goals and two assists in her 44 total appearances.

Academy graduates Isabel Watts and Esta Roberts leave after rising through the ranks and making their first senior appearances, as well as earning Hampshire Senior Cup success with the Under-21s for the first time.

Watts made 17 total appearances for the first team, after making her debut in the 2023/24 campaign, whilst Roberts played 10 times after her debut in the 2024/25 season.

Goalkeeper Ella Pettit joined the Academy later in her youth journey and became a regular back-up around the first team squad, as she made her senior debut and two total appearances in the Subway Women's League Cup last season.

Kiera Sena arrived in the summer of 2025 and made two appearances for the club in the WSL2, in a season where she was unfortunately sidelined for a lengthy period.

The club remains in talks with two other out-of-contract players - Rachel Brown and Milly Mott.

Finally, Saints' two loan players - Jess Simpson, who had a standout season at left-back, and Tegan McGowan, who made plenty of positive impacts after her January arrival - also departed following the end of their loan spells.

Southampton Football Club would like to thank the departing players for their efforts during their time at the club, and we wish them all the best for the future.