Jessie Stapleton departing Shelbourne for UK club

Jessie Stapleton will join Women's Super League side on 1 July after Shelbourne confirmed she will play a final game for the club on Saturday 24 against Linfield FC in the Avenir Sports All Island Cup at Tolka Park.

Stapleton is widely regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in Irish football. She departs the Reds having made 71 appearances, scoring21 goals in winning two League of Ireland titles and an FAI Cup.

Since arriving at Tolka Park in 2021, Stapleton has become central to the success enjoyed under Noel King. In her first season in senior football, she was nominated for Young Player of the Year and named in the team of the season as the Reds won the title in the most dramatic of fashions, pipping Peamount United on the final day to win the 2021 Women's National League title.

The Reds made it to the FAI Cup final that season, but were denied the double by Wexford Youths.

The next season Stapleton was a vital part of the side that followed up the 2021 title win with a remarkable League and Cup "double".

She was crowned Young Player of the Year and retained her place in the Team of the Season. Stapleton also made up for the disappointment of missing out on the FAI Cup in 2021, as she scored the opening goal and won the Player of the Match award as the Reds beat Athlone Town 2-0 in the 2022 FAI Women's Cup final.

Stapleton has captained the Republic of Ireland U-19s side and named U-19s Player of the Year at International level at the FAI Awards in 2022 an award for which has been nominated again for this year.

The 18-year-old went on to make her senior international debut against the Philippines as a substitute last June in Turkey.

She said: "It's been a pleasure to play for this incredible club. I’ve grown so much