Watford sign London City Lionesses keeper Hillyerd on loan

FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division club Watford have signed London City Lionesses goalkeeper Sophie Hillyerd on loan for the remainder of the season.

The Golden Girls announced the news via a post on their official club website this afternoon.

The 22-year-old stopper returns to Watford after briefly turning out for the club back in October. Hillyerd played two matches and kept one clean sheet.

Hillyerd joined parent club London City Lionesses in summer 2023 after leaving former club West Ham United. She has had a difficult start to life with The Pride. Hillyerd sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury which kept her sidelined for the best part of two years.

The player returned to fitness in the summer and signed a contract extension with London City Lionesses. She now needs some regular game time to help her develop and push towards breaking into the London City Lionesses side. The move to Watford should allow Hillyerd to progress.

Hillyerd joins a Watford side that are pushing hard for promotion back to Barclays WSL2. The Golden Girls currently find themselves a point adrift of FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division leaders AFC Bournemouth with nine games left to play.