Scottish Women’s Premier League side Hearts Women have snapped up three Northern Ireland internationals.
Striker Lauren Wade (pictured) was the first to agree a deal with the Edinburgh-based club – and she was quickly followed by midfielder Joely Andrews and fellow forward Kerry Beattie.
Wade, who has won 63 caps and scored 12 goals for Northern Ireland, has signed a two-year deal with Hearts, who finished fourth in SWPL1 last season.
She left Reading Women last month upon the expiration of her contract, with the Royals set to play in the fifth tier next season after they withdrew from the Championship in England.
The 30-year-old’s previous clubs include Glentoran Women, Umea IK (Sweden) and Glasgow City.
Hearts manager Eva Olid said: "Lauren is a player with great experience in women’s football and that is crucial for what we want to achieve this season.
"She’s a player who will add so much quality to our forward line, but also she is a real leader both on and off the pitch.”
Beattie and Andrews have both moved to Scotland from reigning Northern Ireland champions Glentoran Women.
Beattie, who also previously had a stint at Glasgow City, was the top scorer in the NIFL Women's Premiership last season, netting 28 times. And she had already notched up 11 league goals for the Glens this season before signing for Heart of Midlothian’s women’s team.
The 21-year-old has also scored three goals in 10 Northern Ireland appearances.
Andrews (22) scored 14 times for the Glens last term. She has won 20 senior international caps to date, scoring once.
Both players have signed two-year deals with the Edinburgh club.
“Kerry is a proven goalscorer and came across very professional during the negotiations," said Hearts Women boss Olid.
"We knew immediately that we wanted her to be a part of our journey".
Olid added that Andrews was a player with "real energy" who can help add goals from midfield.
“The football we want to play requires players to be technically good and while Joely’s ability with the ball is fantastic, what I was really impressed with was her movement off the ball and her desire to work out of possession,” she said.
