The Women’s Super League (WSL) summer transfer window opens today (Monday), with teams able to begin signing players for the 2024-25 season, which will start on September 21. The window closes a week before that, on September 13.
Short-term contracts still dominate the women’s game, leading to a higher number of incomings and outgoings, particularly among smaller clubs. At the top of the table, however, players are increasingly moving for transfer fees, which makes negotiations more protracted.
Manchester City look set to be the busiest team, largely because they need to be. Gareth Taylor’s side, who were pipped to the title on goal difference last season, had a smaller squad than rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.
Previously announced outgoings mean they are down to 18 players, two of whom are recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. If they are to compete in the Champions League as well as domestically, they will need to make additions this summer. They will be doing so without a director of football, with Nils Nielsen stepping down after 13 months in the role as he pursues a return to coaching.
Steph Houghton’s retirement, Demi Stokes’ departure and Esme Morgan’s move to the Washington Spirit mean they have lost three defenders, although none were regular starters. Barcelona confirmed they had signed Ellie Roebuck on a two-year deal after her City contract expired, so Sandy MacIver’s ACL injury means they have only one recognised goalkeeper in Golden Glove winner Khiara Keating. They will need to add at least one goalkeeper to the squad.
The club were delighted to extend Lauren Hemp’s contract, viewing it to be as important as a new signing, but with Julie Blakstad, Deyna Castellanos and Filippa Angeldal all having moved on over the past six months, they are short on attacking options.
City’s ‘problem’ has been that their front three of Khadija Shaw, Hemp and Chloe Kelly are very hard to compete with, but Mary Fowler’s rise to usurp Kelly towards the end of the season has changed that. Jess Park’s conversion into an attacking midfielder means that looking for another winger could be worthwhile.
A fit-again Mary Fowler is set to be an important figure for Manchester City in the coming season (James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
They have been linked to players, most notably all-time WSL record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema, who is leaving Arsenal. Miedema would be an intriguing fit — she would be unlikely to shift Shaw from the No 9 position but has never looked at her best as a No 10. There are also suggestions they will sign two Japan players: West Ham full-back Risa Shimizu, who is out of contract, and forward Aoba Fujino. Fujino is only 20 years old and would fit with the club’s recent trend towards bringing in younger players. Their three January signings were Tara O’Hanlon, Poppy Pritchard (both 18 when they joined) and Laura Blindkilde-Brown, 20.
City are not the only team who will need a goalkeeper this summer. Arsenal have released both their backups — Sabrina D’Angelo and Kaylan Marckese — with first-choice keeper Manuela Zinsberger signing a new deal in January.
They are also interested in Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh, who would add quality and boost numbers in that area of the pitch following the ACL injury Victoria Pelova sustained on international duty with the Netherlands. Stina Blackstenius has signed a new deal but, given how poor Arsenal’s attack was last season, signing a winger who can be more direct seems like a no-brainer, particularly given the age profile of their wide players. Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead and Cloe Lacasse will all be 30 or older by the end of the season.
Brazilian winger Gio Queiroz, 21, had a productive loan spell in the second half of last season with Madrid CFF in Spain, scoring nine goals in 16 Liga F games, but in March, she said Arsenal had “messed with me a lot”. A reunion appears unlikely. Fleury forward Rosemonde Kouassi, 22, feels like exactly the kind of player who would suit the gap Arsenal have in their squad right now. Able to play anywhere across the front line, she is a direct dribbler with fantastic movement in and around the box.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Sandy Baltimore, 24, would also have fitted the profile at Arsenal but she is set to join Chelsea on a free transfer and sign a four-year deal. That will make Baltimore the first new player through the door under new manager Sonia Bompastor, although interest in the player pre-dates this.
General manager Paul Green has led Chelsea’s recruitment, with the club also expected to sign Barcelona B midfielder Julia Bartel. The 20-year-old has played fewer than 200 minutes of first-team football so may well join Chelsea’s ever-expanding group of loan players. How many of those join the first team this year will be the crux of Chelsea’s incomings and outgoings, with 18-year-old midfielder Wieke Kaptein, 18-year-old defender Brooke Aspin and 22-year-old full-back Alejandra Bernabe all having been signed but left on loan at their former clubs last season.
Chelsea’s biggest need remains a familiar one: someone who can play at the base of midfield. It looked like they had solved this gap in the squad with Sjoeke Nusken, only for her to excel further up the pitch in her debut season. Given the way Bompastor likes to play, filling that gap feels essential. Despite being linked with Arsenal, Walsh would be an ideal fit, although Katie Zelem could be a less flashy option, with her contract at Manchester United coming to an end.
Zelem is one of several United players set to be out of contract. Mary Earps, Rachel Williams, Lucia Garcia and Nikita Parris will also become free agents on June 30. It leaves United in the same position as last year — they are in the dark about how many players they might need and which positions they need to focus on.
Speaking to the Counter Pressed podcast, Liverpool manager Matt Beard said: “I don’t really envisage a lot of change with the squad, maybe two or three max.” With Melissa Lawley, Miri Taylor and Shanice van de Sanden leaving, Beard said they wanted to focus on attacking signings.
Tottenham Hotspur have made clear their desire to sign Grace Clinton, who shone on loan with them, but there is no suggestion Manchester United will let her go. Aston Villa and Leicester City are still looking for new managers, while the future of Brighton & Hove Albion’s interim manager Mikey Harris is uncertain. Promoted Crystal Palace have dealt with a lot of squad churn, on top of their star striker Elise Hughes tearing her ACL in their penultimate game of the season. Their summer transfer window will be an early sign of their ambition to compete at the top level.
(Top photos: Getty Images)