London City Lionesses have announced that their goalkeeper Sophie Hillyerd has joined Watford on loan until the end of the 2025-26 season.
The 22-year-old returns to the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division side following a short loan spell there in October 2025.
During that time, she kept a clean sheet in the Golden Girls’ 5-0 win over Actonians in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, and was also in goal for the 1-1 draw against Real Bedford in the league.
Sophie Hillyerd: her career so far
Hillyerd joined London City Lionesses in July 2023 on a two-year deal from West Ham United, after previous spells with Bristol City, Manchester United and Charlton Athletic, which earnt her an England Under-19s call-up.
Shortly after arriving at London City Lionesses, though, Hillyerd suffered a knee injury in a pre-season friendly that would keep her sidelined for the best part of two years.
In a social media video released in 2025, Hillyerd said that the initial knee injury was not thought to be serious, but after two surgeries she still had not been able to return to running.
She added: “I was nervous for the third [operation] because it felt like my only hope. It also felt like a step back because obviously I’d finally got back on pitch [after the second operation]. The third operation for me was all or nothing, really.”
The third surgery proved successful, and she marked her long-awaited return against FC Twente in a pre-season friendly in August 2025.
London City Lionesses wrote on social media at the time that it was “an emotional return between the sticks”, adding: “After a long road to recovery, Sophie made her first appearance back in goal, and helped secure the win. Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. Welcome back to the pitch.”
Hillyerd signed a new contract ahead of London City’s debut WSL season.
