What happened: West Ham United have confirmed that Shelina Zadorsky, Verena Hanshaw, Camila Sáez, Soraya Walsh and Emily Taylor-Brown will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June. The departures are part of a wave of seven women's team exits announced as the side reshapes its squad for the coming campaign.

Why it matters: Losing experienced figures such as captain Zadorsky and full-back Hanshaw thins out West Ham's defensive core and signals a significant reset rather than a tweak. How the club replaces that senior leadership will shape its competitiveness in the upcoming season.

What to watch: Attention now turns to West Ham's incoming business and who steps into the vacated defensive and leadership roles before the new season begins.