Linfield have moved to strengthen their youthful squad ahead of the start of this year’s Danske Bank Women’s Premiership with seven signings.

Phil Lewis’s squad have been hit by a series of high-profile exits in recent seasons with last season’s squad largely compromised of teenagers, with the Blues now moving to add experience to their ranks.

Duo Megan Weatherall and Rachel McConnell have both arrived from Cliftonville, having helped the Reds to a top two finish last time out.

Experienced defender Weatherall, 29, featured in 16 of the Reds 20 league games last campaign while 26-year-old attacking midfielder McConnell bagged four goals in six starts for the North Belfast side.

Weatherall is a former youth international and current Futsal international who had been a mainstay in the Reds defence in recent years while McConnell previously starred for Portadown prior to her move to Solitude.

Also arriving at Linfield is the returning Clare Timoney, who has been capped 10 times for Northern Ireland having starred through the youth teams and been a key figure in the Blues domestic successes this decade.

The 33-year-old left for Canada at the end of the Blues League and Cup winning season of 2016, before returning to enjoy more successes in 2018 and 2019.

Timoney – who previously captained Antrim’s Gaelic Football side – is another exciting addition for the Blues.

Linfield have also signed former Northern Ireland youth international goalkeeper Kirsty McCaughtry, who had previously been on the books of Cliftonville and Crusaders.

McCaughtry starred for NI’s Under-17 and Under-19 sides, and has returned to Northern Ireland following a scholarship at East Tennessee State University.

Another arrival in South Belfast is Donegal GAA Football star Eilish Ward, who is a versatile attacking player and is a former FAI youth international.

The Blues recruitment was concluded by forward Carla Devine who came through Cliftonville’s academy and Danielle Winter, who starred with Ballymena Allstars in the Championship.