Liverpool have signed Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan from North Carolina Courage for a club record fee.
The midfielder, who previously featured in the Barclays Women’s Super League in a short loan stint at Brighton, has agreed to join the Reds for a fee thought to be in the region of £300,000. That surpasses the previous record amount paid by the club to sign Olivia Smith from Sporting Lisbon for £210,000 in the summer of 2024.
O’Sullivan has signed on a permanent deal for Liverpool and will wear the number six jersey. The Irish star, hailing from Cork brings Gareth Taylor’s Liverpool side much needed quality and cover in midfield with the likes of Fuka Nagano soon to depart for the Asia Cup in late February.
Denise O’Sullivan on leaving the Courage
O’Sullivan was made the North Carolina Courage captain in 2023 and was hugely successful in her time at the club. The Cork native joined the Courage in 2017 after leaving Houston Dash and went onto amass an astonishing two NWSL Championships, three NWSL Shields and two NWSL Challenge Cups. Nobody has played more for North Carolina Courage than the Irish taliswoman who featured 186 times for the club.
O’Sullivan released a statement upon leaving North Carolina, a club that she has called her home for such a long time,
“It’s hard to put into words what this club has truly meant to me” O’Sullivan said.
“North Carolina will always be my home, and I’m forever grateful to the club, my teammates, and the incredible fans who supported and believed in me every step of the way.
“I’m onto a new challenge now, but I’ll always be a part of Courage Country. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything,”
The club’s Chief Soccer Officer Ceri Bowly summed up the incredible impact the Irish midfielder has had on the club,
“Denise has been an integral part of this club since the beginning, and she has helped define the Courage way” Bowly said.
“She’s been a leader, both on and off the field, and the standard of excellence she set for herself, her teammates, and everyone at this organization will be her legacy.
“She will be missed, but we understand her desire to be closer to home and wish her all the best in her next chapter.”
The move means that Ryan Williams in the only remaining player at the Courage from their 2019 NWSL Championship winning team.
Denise O’Sullivan joins Liverpool
Upon joining Liverpool, O’Sullivan spoke about the emotions associated with the move to Liverpoolfc.com,
“It means a lot. It’s a very proud moment for myself and also for my family, who are now only a 40-minute flight away” O’Sullivan said.
“Liverpool is a massive club and I think when you join a club as big as Liverpool it comes with massive responsibility and I can’t wait to get to work and to give 100 per cent every day.
“I want to help this team and it’s important to get results and that’s what I’m here for, to have an impact. I want to come in and have an impact from the first minute and get going with the team.
“I am a natural leader, I want to lead by example and lead with humility as well, bring everyone up around me and that’s what I’m here to do.”
The BBC’s Emma Sanders noted that Liverpool’s long-term project and facilities at Melwood were likely key in O’Sullivan’s decision as there was interest from several clubs.
The move means that O’Sullivan will link up with Irish international team mate Leanne Kiernan as well as former North Carolina Courage midfielder Fuka Nagano on Merseyside. She will also be reunited with Amber Whiteley, the assistant coach at Liverpool is also one of Carla Ward’s assistant coaches for Ireland. Liverpool currently sit bottom of the Barclays Women’s Super League and are yet to win in the league this term.
O’Sullivan’s immense experience
O’Sullivan is one of the most decorated players ever to don the Irish jersey. She is the second most capped women’s footballer of all time for the Republic of Ireland on 128 caps, sitting just six behind record holder Emma Byrne. It was O’Sullivan’s through ball to Amber Barrett that would help Ireland secure a place at their first ever Women’s World Cup against Scotland at Hampden Park.
O’Sullivan is immensely experienced, she was part of the Glasgow City side that became the first Scottish team to make the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter finals in 2014/15. O’Sullivan has played in her native Ireland, in Australia and now she returns to England.
