Aston Villa’s Sarah Mayling joins Leicester City on loan

Sarah Mayling
Sarah Mayling (Leicester City)

Sarah Mayling has joined Leicester City on loan from Aston Villa.

The right-sided defender links up with the East Midlands club, who are currently ninth in the Barclays WSL table, on a deal until the end of the season.

In an interview with Foxes Hub, Sarah said: “The manager has shown belief in me and given me confidence, so it was a no-brainer to come and play for this Football Club.

“The facilities and the environment that is being created here all builds into it. Belvoir Drive is somewhere you’d want to work every day and will motivate us to be the best we can be.”

She is the latest addition to the Foxes ranks following the permanent acquisition of Emma Jansson, announced on Monday evening.

Leicester City have also been linked with a move for Tottenham defender Ash Neville.

Sarah Mayling: her career so far

The 28-year-old began her career at Villa, progressing through their academy.

She then spent four years at Birmingham City.

Mayling re-joined Villa in the summer of 2021 and has made a total of 109 appearances during her second stint in claret and blue, scoring three goals.

She has now spent ten consecutive years playing in the top flight with more than 200 appearances overall to her credit.

Mayling is available for selection ahead of Leicester’s fixture with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 11th January.

Leicester City’s season so far

Leicester City will also face Tottenham at the same venue a week later in the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup.

The Foxes currently sit ninth in the WSL table, on nine points, from two wins and three draws in their 11 games so far this season. They finished the first half of the season with a 1-0 win over London City Lionesses.

Shannon O’Brien scored the only goal of the game, just before the hour mark.

And goalkeeper Janina Leitzig saved a stoppage-time penalty to ensure the Foxes finished 2025 on a high.

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About Carrie Dunn 499 Articles
Carrie Dunn is a women's football writer. Her book 'Unsuitable for Females' was shortlisted for Football Book of the Year at the 2023 Sports Book Awards, and more recently 'Woman Up' was nominated for the 2024 Vikki Orvice Award for Women's Sport Writing. Her newest book 'Flying the Flag: The Footballing Heroines of the Home Nations Who Made History Abroad' is out now.