Newcastle Targets Liverpool Striker Leanne Kiernan in Ambitious Move

Newcastle United are closing in on a statement signing, with talks at an advanced stage to bring Republic of Ireland forward Leanne Kiernan from Liverpool.

The deal would mark a major coup for the second-tier club. Kiernan is 27, under contract at Liverpool for more than another year, and has been part of the Merseyside side’s set-up for five seasons. Any agreement will require a fee – and Newcastle look prepared to pay it.

Proven scorer on the move

Kiernan’s numbers at Liverpool tell their own story. Twenty-three goals in 76 appearances. A central figure in their 2022 WSL 2 title win. Top scorer that season with 14 league goals as Liverpool powered their way back to the top flight.

That campaign underlined her value: sharp in the box, relentless off the ball, and willing to carry a promotion charge on her shoulders.

Her journey to Anfield came via West Ham, where she made more than 40 WSL appearances after breaking through at Shelbourne. At international level, she has 38 caps for the Republic of Ireland since her debut in 2017, a regular presence in senior squads over nearly a decade.

This is not a gamble on potential. Newcastle are chasing a forward who has already lived the pressure of title races and survival battles in England’s top tiers.

Squeezed out at Liverpool

The twist is that Kiernan’s Liverpool story has stalled.

Under manager Gareth Taylor, opportunities have dried up. She started just one WSL game last season before heading out on loan to Nottingham Forest in January for the second half of the campaign.

Competition has only intensified. Liverpool have strengthened again in attack this summer with the signing of Germany forward Vivien Endemann from Wolfsburg, pushing Kiernan further down the pecking order.

For a player in her prime years, watching from the bench was never going to be a long-term solution.

Newcastle’s intent is clear

Newcastle, by contrast, are building. And fast.

They have already made six signings in a busy window, assembling a squad designed not simply to compete in WSL 2, but to win it. Adding Kiernan would give them something they still lack in abundance: a forward with proven pedigree at the very top of the women’s game in England.

Her arrival would deepen their attacking options and change the dynamic of their frontline. She can lead the line, run channels, press from the front, and finish. Just as importantly, she knows what it takes to navigate a promotion push, having done it before with Liverpool.

For Kiernan, the move offers a reset and a platform. For Newcastle, it signals intent to accelerate their rise.

If they get this over the line, it won’t just be another smart signing. It will be a clear message to the rest of the division: Newcastle are not waiting around to join the elite.