Newcastle United have completed the signing of Scotland international Rachel McLauchlan from Brighton for an undisclosed amount.
The 29-year-old spent the past two seasons with Women’s Super League side Brighton, making 51 appearances.
She played in this year’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City and arrives to add significant experience to Newcastle’s WSL 2 squad.
Across spells with Rangers, Glasgow City and Hibernian, McLauchlan won five Scottish Women’s Premier League titles and four Scottish Cups.
She has earned 35 caps for Scotland.
McLauchlan said she is excited to get going, views the move as a major opportunity, and is looking forward to meeting her new teammates.
She added that her goal is to help the team secure promotion, noting that manager Tanya Oxtoby’s vision for the club was a key factor in her decision.
Oxtoby highlighted McLauchlan’s extensive experience at club and international level and said she understands what it takes to challenge for and win league titles.
The manager described her as a high-calibre defender who offers versatility at full-back and can also provide strong support in attack.