Women's team v Leicester City in May 2024

Player departures from women’s team confirmed

West Ham United women’s team can confirm Mackenzie Arnold, Hawa Cissoko, Honoka Hayashi, Risa Shimizu, Emma Snerle and Abbey-Leigh Stringer will be departing the Club when their respective contracts expire on 30 June 2024.

Australia goalkeeper Arnold will depart east London after four seasons with the Club, captaining the team in her final season. The 30-year-old joined West Ham in July 2020 and made 90 appearances in total, which places her third in the all-time appearance records behind Kate Longhurst and Gilly Flaherty. 

France defender Cissoko departs having made 83 appearances for the Club across all competitions, having signed for the Hammers in July 2020. The 27-year-old defender, who served as vice-captain since September 2022, scored two goals in Claret & Blue, including a winner against Tottenham Hotspur in December 2022.

Japan midfielder Hayashi will move on after two seasons with the Club, having joined in September 2022. The 26-year-old made 50 appearances, hitting the milestone in the final match of the 2023/24 Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) season against Tottenham Hotspur.

Women's team v Aston Villa in May 2024

Fellow Japan international Shimizu departs having made 54 appearances for the Club since making the move to east London in August 2022. The right-back played every minute during the 2023/24 WSL campaign. 

Denmark midfielder Snerle made 39 appearances in Claret and Blue after joining from Fortuna Hjørring in January 2022 and found the net on three occasions, against Reading, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. 

Stringer departs having featured 50 times for the Club since arriving from Everton in July 2021. The midfielder netted her only goal for West Ham in a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in February 2022.  

Manager Rehanne Skinner expressed her gratitude, saying: “I would like to wholeheartedly thank the players that are departing the Club at the end of their contracts. 

“I have enjoyed working with all of them this year, particularly seeing their development both as footballers on the pitch but also as people off of it. 

“Their contributions to West Ham United over recent years has been clear to see and I want to wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.”

Everyone at West Ham United would like to thank Mackenzie, Hawa, Honoka, Risa, Emma and Abbey-Leigh for their contributions to the Club and wish them every success for the future.