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Thursday, January 22, 2026

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O’Sullivan and Csillag sign for Liverpool

Liverpool FC Women have completed the signings of midfielder Denise O'Sullivan and striker Aurélie Csillag from SC Freiburg.   

Vastly experienced Republic of Ireland international O’Sullivan – who has won 128 caps for her country – has sealed a permanent transfer to the Reds from North Carolina Courage.

O'Sullivan told 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.

"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."

The 31-year-old arrives having spent eight-and-a-half hugely successful years in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

After joining the Courage in the summer of 2017, O'Sullivan won the NWSL Championship twice and the NWSL Shield on three occasions in her first three seasons with the club. She also lifted the NWSL Challenge Cup in 2022 and 2023.

O'Sullivan, who was appointed Courage captain before the 2023 season, leaves as the club's all-time top appearance maker.

On the international stage, O'Sullivan made her senior debut for Ireland as a 17-year-old in 2011 and was named her country's Women's Player of the Year in 2015 and 2020. She is the second most capped player in Ireland's history, six outings behind the now-retired Emma Byrne, and played in their first Women's World Cup finals appearance in 2023.

Before moving to North Carolina, O'Sullivan represented hometown club Cork City, Peamount United, Glasgow City – where she enjoyed success that included the winning of three league titles – and Houston Dash.

O'Sullivan also has previous Barclays Women's Super League experience having had a spell on loan with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2020.

She added: "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."

Switzerland international forward Csillag today put the finishing touches to her transfer at the AXA Melwood Training Centre.   

Csillag, who turns 23 on January 24, told Liverpoolfc.com: "For me, the [Barclays Women's] Super League was always a dream.

"When I was a little child, I always wanted to play in the Super League. And then when I heard from Liverpool, it was a nice city, a nice club, a lot of tradition and history, I didn't have any doubts to join this winter.

"The training centre is amazing. I've never seen a training centre in a women's club like this. I was very, very surprised and very happy that I could see this and join this."

Csillag began her career with FC Blue Stars Zurich before moving to Grasshopper Club Zurich, where she broke into the first-team set-up in 2020. A switch to FC Basel followed in February 2023, before Csillag joined Freiburg last summer. She has won 12 senior international caps for Switzerland, scoring once, and arrives at Liverpool having made 14 appearances for Frauen-Bundesliga team Freiburg.

Csillag scored four times for Freiburg this season and netted her first international goal in a friendly against Wales last month.

"I'm looking forward to playing against the big clubs," she added. "For me, it's the best league in the world.

"It's a big chance for me to show what I can do on the pitch in this league."