Everton trigger release clause to land Leicester’s Jutta Rantala

The 26‑year‑old Finnish forward Jutta Rantala has joined Everton, with the Toffees activating a release clause to secure her on a permanent deal at Goodison Park. The move was confirmed this afternoon, marking a significant addition to the club’s summer recruitment.

WSL Full‑Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Toffees this afternoon. Everton completed the signing of Leicester City forward Jutta Rantala on a permanent deal after triggering the clause in her contract.

Rantala spent three seasons with the Foxes, making 47 appearances for Leicester City in all competitions. Her tenure at the club demonstrated consistency and durability across multiple campaigns.

The most productive season of her Leicester spell came in 2023/2024, when she netted six goals in 22 outings in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Those figures highlight her attacking contribution at the top level of English women’s football.

On the international stage, Rantala has been capped by Finland on 36 occasions, scoring 10 goals for her country. Her experience adds a valuable international dimension to Everton’s squad.

After joining Leicester City, Rantala said, “I am really happy to be here. I am very excited to get started. I heard all about the history of the Club and it means a lot to the people in the stands. I had a really good feeling about the Club. I have seen how Everton plays so I am really excited to be part of that. I want to bring a lot of goals and assists. I am a pretty technical player, so I hope I can bring that and play well together with other players and show my experience. I play in mostly attacking roles: winger, as a 10 and leading the line. I would say I am good at shooting with both feet and I like to score from distance.”

Rantala is Everton’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window, reflecting the club’s active recruitment in the WSL market. The acquisition underscores Everton’s intent to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the upcoming season.