SAINTS Women have signed former Charlton Athletic duo Ellie Brazil and Mary Bashford ahead of the 2025/26 WSL2 (Championship) campaign.

Brazil and Bashford have made the move to St Mary's following the end of their contracts with the Addicks, and further bolster new boss Simon Parker's squad.

Brazil was named Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year for Charlton, who finished third last season, after scoring eight goals.

A former England youth international, Brazil had spent her entire career at the top level, including a year with Fiorentina in Serie A, before she joined Charlton in 2024.

After a season where she found her feet again in style after a period of injury, Brazil expressed her excitement at securing a move to Saints for the next chapter of her career.

“I played at St Mary’s at the last game of the season and I thought ‘this is an incredible stadium’," she said.

Ellie Brazil has signed for Southampton FC Women after leaving Charlton.Ellie Brazil has signed for Southampton FC Women after leaving Charlton. (Image: Chris Moorhouse/Southampton FC) "It’s probably by far the best in the WSL2 and competes with a lot of the WSL. I thought I’d be really interested to see what the facilities were like at the training ground.

"I wanted to see what the club’s prospects were, and it all kind of aligned as we continued the conversations.

“I’m really excited to get going, meet the girls, the staff, and also meet the fans. It should be a really exciting season.”

Bashford rose through the ranks with at Charlton as a member of their Regional Talent Club, before becoming an established member of the senior side in recent seasons.

She joined Charlton at the age of 15 and became part of the first team squad less than three years later, as she made her professional debut in the second tier whilst still in her teenage years.

After sealing a move to the south coast, the 20 year old explained: “I’d say I’m a very hard-working midfielder.

"I’ll get up, box-to-box, and put a lot of energy into the team and just do as much as I can to win games.

“I can’t wait to see (the fans) and I’m really excited for our first game to meet everyone and feel the atmosphere at St Mary’s.”