Leanne Cowan

Leanne Cowan (born 1 February 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for WSL 2 club Sheffield United.

Cowan played youth football with Millwall Lionesses, making her senior debut in the 2014 FA WSL 2, before becoming a first-team regular in the 2015 FA WSL 2. She has subsequently played for Crystal Palace and spent a second spell at London City Lionesses, before joining Sheffield United in 2024.

Early life Cowan was born in London, She scored her first senior goal during her full home debut at The Den. She went on to play 14 of 18 league games for Millwall, who ended the season in 3rd - their best finish since the formation of the WSL 2. She only managed 11 league appearances through the season due to injury, tearing her ankle ligaments in September and injuring her hip flexor in the February FA Cup clash against Liverpool. She provided an assist for Lucy Fitzgerald's goal in the opening game of the season, which the Lionesses won 2–0 against London Bees. Cowan scored in the third game of the season, netting the second in a 3–1 win over Leicester City.

Cowan continued to struggle with injuries through the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns, making 17 league appearances across both seasons. She was released by London City in May 2021.

Crystal Palace Cowan signed for FA Women's Championship club Crystal Palace on a free transfer in July 2021, ahead of the 2021-22 season. She established herself as a regular starter, making 15 appearances before missing the last two months of the season due to injury.

Cowan was forced to miss the entirety of the 2022-23 season due to injury, and left Palace on a free after the season concluded. She appeared in every league game during her debut season, playing both in wing-back roles and as part of a back three. Sheffield United finished last in the league, but were reprieved from relegation after Blackburn Rovers were unable to meet the minimum standards for the next season, and were relegated themselves.

Cowan re-signed with the club ahead of the 2025-26 WSL 2 season. She started every game for the first half of the season, usually playing as the right centre-back in a back three., and worked "three or four" other part-time jobs, sometimes consecutively, to support herself until she was able to turn full-time professional.

Career statistics Club