‘Leicester Is My Hometown’ – Williams Journeys Back To City

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‘Leicester Is My Hometown’ – Williams Journeys Back To City

At 38-years-old, Rachel Williams has returned to where it all began, signing a permanent deal with LCFC Women.

2026-01-15T18:31+00:00

by Matthew Temple

Published

15 Jan, 2026

‘Leicester Is My Hometown’ – Williams Journeys Back To City

At 38-years-old, Rachel Williams has returned to where it all began, signing a permanent deal with LCFC Women.

Matthew Temple

2026-01-15T18:31+00:00

‘Leicester Is My Hometown’ – Williams Journeys Back To City

At 38-years-old, Rachel Williams has returned to where it all began, signing a permanent deal with LCFC Women.

Matthew Temple

2026-01-15T18:31+00:00

‘Leicester Is My Hometown’ – Williams Journeys Back To City

At 38-years-old, Rachel Williams has returned to where it all began, signing a permanent deal with LCFC Women.

Matthew Temple

2026-01-15T18:31+00:00

‘Leicester Is My Hometown’ – Williams Journeys Back To City

At 38-years-old, Rachel Williams has returned to where it all began, signing a permanent deal with LCFC Women.

Matthew Temple

2026-01-15T18:31+00:00

Coming through the Centre of Excellence at Leicester, Williams joined Doncaster Belles back in 2008 and has since gone on to play for some of the biggest clubs in the country.

Representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, the English forward’s move from Manchester United is one of her proudest achievements in an illustrious career.

“It’s a bit surreal,” Williams told us in her first sit-down interview. “I started my footballing journey in Leicester, and I’ve been around the block a bit, so to come home and have a new challenge that I’ve been looking forward to is really exciting.

The 38-year-old joins from Manchester United.

“The main reason for coming back is that I started my career here and have always said that I want to finish my career here.

“This Club has really set me on a path to be able to achieve what I’ve wanted. Leicester is my hometown; I love it here and have always followed the Foxes.

“I think I’ve still got a lot to offer so to come here and be given the opportunity is something that I’ve been looking forward to.”

Featuring 90 times for the Red Devils since joining in the summer of 2022, the forward admitted she did not expect to be in this position, but has loved being a part of the women’s game and seeing how it’s grown over the years.

Coming home to where it all started.

She added: “Being that young kid on the streets of Leicester, I never thought I would’ve had this career. I knew there was this big bad world out there that I wanted to explore.

“It’s amazing to see how far the women’s game has come and I’ve been a big part of that.

“Leicester have been there, working their way back up to the WSL and competing in it over the last few years, so it’s great to be here to now help the side out.

“Football is what I love, and to be able to do it as a job is amazing and a credit to where the women’s game has come.”

Of course, the player that left the Club all those years ago isn’t the same one returning now. Full of confidence that she can still add much to this ever-developing squad, the forward cannot wait to put that Leicester shirt on once again.

Ready to represent the Foxes once again.

“I’ve got that experience now; my role has changed now,” Williams continued. “I’ve always been known to put in a big tackle, and turn up for big games, get goals and create goals, but it’s about being the best team player I can be.

“I’ll always give everything and help the team anyway I can. Anything that the younger players want, staff or coaches, I’ve always been approachable.

“I’ll keep being me, and the fact I purely love to play football, you can see my passion for it and my desire. I want to do well and win games.

“It (signing here) is something I’ve dreamt of for a long time, so to put on that Leicester shirt every week, it’s going to be very special to me.”

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