Leicester City Women have completed the signing of Switzerland international forward Alisha Lehmann from Italian side FC Como, as the Women's Super League club continues its focused January recruitment drive for experienced players.
Experienced Addition to Leicester's Squad
The 27-year-old Lehmann has signed a contract with Leicester that will keep her at the club until 2028. She brings significant top-flight experience to the Foxes, having previously played in England's WSL for West Ham United, Everton, and Aston Villa before her move to Juventus and subsequently FC Como in August.
Lehmann's arrival represents Leicester's fifth signing during the January transfer window and their fourth acquisition with established WSL experience. She joins fellow new arrivals Rachel Williams, Ashleigh Neville, Sarah Mayling, and Emma Jansson as manager Willie Kirk strengthens his squad.
International Pedigree and Social Media Presence
With 64 senior caps for Switzerland, Lehmann was part of her national team's squad for Euro 2025, which was hosted by Switzerland. Her international experience adds valuable depth to Leicester's attacking options as they seek to improve their position in the WSL table.
Beyond her on-field credentials, Lehmann occupies a unique space in women's football as one of the sport's most followed athletes on social media. She boasts an impressive 15.9 million followers on Instagram and 11.8 million on TikTok, bringing significant visibility to Leicester City Women.
The forward has also expanded her involvement in football beyond playing, having recently completed a season co-managing a UK Baller League team alongside television presenter Maya Jama.
Leicester's Strategic January Business
Leicester's recruitment strategy this month has specifically targeted experienced players to address what has been one of the youngest average starting XIs in the WSL this season. The departure of former captain Janice Cayman to Dutch side PSV created additional need for leadership within the squad.
Lehmann told the Guardian that her move to Leicester "just felt right" despite not being a regular starter during her brief spell with FC Como. At 27, she represents the youngest of Leicester's January signings while bringing substantial top-level experience.
Everton's Kelly Gago Transfer Situation
In related WSL transfer news, Everton head coach Brian Sørensen has confirmed that France striker Kelly Gago wants to leave the club, though no suitable offer has yet been received. Speaking ahead of Everton's WSL match against Brighton, Sørensen revealed that while Gago has a release clause in her contract, any offers submitted have represented only about 10% of that valuation.
Reports suggest Everton are seeking approximately £500,000 for the forward, but Sørensen indicated that with current offers falling significantly short of that figure, Gago is unlikely to depart during this transfer window unless a club meets the release clause requirements.
The contrasting transfer situations at Leicester and Everton highlight the varied approaches and challenges WSL clubs face during the January window as they seek to strengthen their squads for the remainder of the season.
