Manchester United and Chelsea sign Leicester players via release clauses

Manchester United have signed goalkeeper Janina Leitzig from Leicester City. Chelsea, meanwhile, have secured youth international Nelly Las from the same club. Both transfers were completed by triggering release clauses.

The dual departures underscore the fragile economic position of clubs dropping out of the Women's Super League. Relegation strips Leicester of top-flight broadcast revenue and commercial drawing power, fundamentally altering their leverage in the transfer market. This forces the club to cede valuable playing assets to wealthier rivals who can simply meet the fixed contractual buyout terms.

Leitzig, a 27-year-old former Germany youth international, spent three years at Leicester after initially arriving on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich. She made almost 70 appearances but could not prevent their relegation last season. She now joins United on a three-year deal after the club activated the release clause in a contract she renewed in 2025, and will wear the number 25 shirt.

"It is a real honour to be a Manchester United player," said Leitzig. "I'm ready to bring all of my experience of competing at the highest level to help the team to have a successful season."

Later on Friday, Chelsea confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Las on a four-year deal. The winger and full-back, who is bilingual in English and Slovak, made 23 appearances for Leicester after joining their senior team in 2024. She spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town.

Las will add depth to Chelsea's wide defensive and attacking options. "It feels absolutely amazing. It's something you dream of when you start football, to sign for a team like Chelsea and to reach a level like this," she said.

Attempting to stabilise its playing squad amid this exodus, Leicester has converted the loan move of defender Sarah Mayling from Aston Villa into a permanent transfer. Mayling spent eight years at Villa across two spells and their youth academy, making over 100 appearances. The 29-year-old, who was on loan at Leicester for the second half of last season, has signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee to become their second summer signing.

United's pursuit of Leitzig dates back to 2023. For the top-tier clubs, the existence of these release clauses represents a highly efficient market strategy to acquire proven talent. It allows them to bypass protracted transfer negotiations, effectively commodifying player contracts in a league where financial disparities between the top and bottom are rapidly widening.