Sunderland announce departure of defender Goddard | OneFootball

Sunderland have announced the news that defender Amy Goddard is leaving the club this summer.

The Lady Black Cats revealed the player’s departure via a post on their official club X account this evening.

Goddard signed for Sunderland in summer 2023 after the player impressed head coach Melanie Reay whilst on trial. The move saw the defender return to the Barclays Women’s Championship following a spell playing her football in the third tier with Oxford United.

Since arriving on Wearside, Goddard has been a rock at the heart of the Sunderland defence. The player has made 39 appearances for The Lady Black Cats in the second tier, scoring her only goal in a 2-0 victory over Durham in an A690 derby fixture back in March. Goddard made a significant contribution as Sunderland went close to winning promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League in 2023/2024.

With the 2024/2025 Barclays Women’s Championship season having come to an end at the weekend, it has been revealed that Goddard will move on to a new challenge. She will leave Sunderland with the club’s best wishes for the future.

Goddard is the first player to be leaving Sunderland during the close season. Further squad news will be announced by the club in due course.