Wrexham Women Part Ways With Record-Breaking All-Time Top Scorer In Shocking Split

Wrexham have confirmed that iconic striker Rosie Hughes will depart the club as a free agent once her contract comes to an end this summer.

The 30-year-old holds the record as the club's all-time top scorer and has been instrumental in their journey from the Adran North to claiming the Welsh championship for the first time this season. She is among seven players set to depart following the club's retained list announcement.

Hughes swiftly became a fan favourite at Wrexham after netting 24 goals in nine appearances to help secure promotion from the Adran North three years ago. Even in the most recent campaign, she managed nine league goals from only six starts—the second-highest total in the first-team squad.

Not only did she become the first woman to reach 100 goals for Wrexham Women, but she also became the first to make 100 appearances for the club since the women's team was re-established in 2018. Across her five-year tenure, she netted 136 goals in 115 competitive first-team outings.

Why Rosie Hughes Is Leaving Wrexham

Our first centurion, our record goal scorer, and someone who created countless memories in a Wrexham shirt.

Diolch am bopeth, Rosie ❤️

🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/GRW2dMUFY6

Hughes is a true Wrexham legend, yet she will not feature in the squad next season after the club chose not to offer her a contract extension.

She became an immediate sensation at Wrexham following the takeover by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, bagging 90 goals across her opening two seasons. Her story was also documented in the FX series "Welcome to Wrexham," which highlighted her remarkable life as a star of the women's team while simultaneously working as a prison officer in the city.

Hughes was central to Wrexham's progression to the Adran Premier, though her involvement gradually decreased along the way. She scored four league goals in 12 starts the previous season, but featured in just six games as the club claimed the Welsh title for the first time in their history.

Her departure reflects the club's ongoing growth, which has brought sweeping changes over the past five years. Following the completion of the takeover, Wrexham Women set the bold target of winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League — goals that required making tough decisions along the way.

Wrexham Women Retained List

Wrexham remain the only club in the Adran Premier to offer players full-time contracts, and they also made history as the first Welsh club to pay a transfer fee when they signed Maria Francis-Jones from The New Saints. The Red Dragons broke further ground by becoming the first women's team in the Welsh leagues to fully own their own stadium after completing the purchase of The Rock at the beginning of the season.

With their inaugural Champions League campaign due to kick off next month, the club will look to add to their list of achievements by becoming the first Welsh side to advance past the opening qualifying round. Even with the significant changes already made, further moves will be necessary to match those ambitious targets.

The cost of that sporting success comes with the emotional toll of bidding farewell to so many players who have given so much to the club. Hughes will exit alongside Neve Adams, Leah Burke, Abbie Iddenden, Carra Jones, Erin Lovett and Hannah Snape when their contracts conclude this summer.

To maintain a strong foundation heading into next season, Nat Clarke, Liz Craven, Phoebe Davies, Liv Fuller, Sarah Harvey, Faye Knox, Mariam Mahmood, Evie Sadler, Josie Smith and Ava Suckley have all been offered new contracts. Katie Barker, Jodie Bartle, Maria Francis-Jones and Lili Jones are already contracted for the upcoming campaign, while Evie Holt and Mikayla Wildgoose will continue their rehabilitation at the club. Keren Allen, Chloe Ankers and Mari Gibbard have each decided to retire.

Wrexham Women will chase further history this summer, but they will do so without the player who scored more goals for them than anyone else.