The WSL transfer window is heating up as clubs make final adjustments to their squads. Arsenal’s £1 million signing of Olivia Smith is the headline move, while London City Lionesses are making a statement with 11 new arrivals. Several other clubs are also bolstering their ranks, setting the stage for a competitive season.
The Women's Super League (WSL) is abuzz with activity as clubs scramble to finalize their summer transfer deals before the 23:00 BST deadline on September 4th. With teams bolstering their squads for the upcoming season, several high-profile moves have already sent shockwaves through the league.
Topping the headlines is Arsenal's record-breaking acquisition of Canadian forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool. The £1 million transfer fee marks a significant investment and underscores Arsenal's ambition to compete for the WSL title. Smith's arrival is expected to add firepower to the Gunners' attack, making them a formidable force to be reckoned with.
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Olivia Smith (centre) moved to Arsenal from Liverpool for £1m, while Ellie Carpenter (left) has signed for Chelsea and Ellie Roebuck joined Aston Villa
However, Arsenal's activity doesn't stop there. They've also secured the services of Anneke Borbe (Goalkeeper, from Wolfsburg), Taylor Hinds (Defender, from Liverpool) and Chloe Kelly (Winger, from Man City) further solidifying their squad depth and quality. But with arrivals, there must be departures. Michelle Agyemang (Forward, to Brighton on loan), Freya Godfrey (Midfielder, to London City Lionesses), Teyah Goldie (Defender, to London City Lionesses), Laila Harbert (Midfielder, to Portland Thorns on loan), Lina Hurtig (Forward, to Fiorentina), Amanda Ilestedt (Defender, to Eintracht Frankfurt), Rosa Kafaji (Forward, to Brighton on loan) and Laura Wienroither (Defender, to Man City) have all left the club.
Meanwhile, Manchester United and England midfielder Grace Clinton is generating significant buzz and could be on the move before the transfer window slams shut. Her potential departure would be a major blow to the Red Devils, but several clubs are reportedly vying for her signature.
Newly promoted London City Lionesses are making waves with a flurry of signings. The Lionesses have welcomed 11 new players to their ranks, signaling their intention to compete strongly in their first season in the top flight. Among the notable additions are Jana Fernandez (Defender, from Barcelona), Sanni Franssi (Forward, from Real Sociedad), Freya Godfrey (Midfielder, from Arsenal), Teyah Goldie (Defender, from Arsenal), Isa Kardinaal (Defender, from Ajax), Alanna Kennedy (Defender, from Angel City), Elena Linari (Defender, from Roma), Elene Lete (Goalkeeper, from Real Sociedad), Nikita Parris (Winger, from Brighton), Poppy Pattinson (Defender, from Brighton), Sophia Poor (Goalkeeper, from Aston Villa), Connie Scofield (Midfielder, from, Danielle van de Donk (Midfielder, from Lyon) and Katie Zelem (Midfielder, from Angel City). These acquisitions demonstrate the Lionesses' ambition and determination to establish themselves as a competitive force in the WSL.
Aston Villa have also been busy in the transfer market, bringing in Jill Baijings (Midfielder, from Bayern Munich), Oceane Deslandes (Defender, from Montpellier), Maya Hijikata (Forward, from Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Lucia Kendall (Midfielder, from Southampton), Ellie Roebuck (Goalkeeper, from Barcelona) and Lynn Wilms (Defender, from Wolfsburg). However, their gains have been tempered by the departures of Jordan Nobbs (Midfielder, to Newcastle United), Maz Pacheco (Defender, to Everton), Sophia Poor (Goalkeeper, to London City Lionesses), Katie Robinson (Midfielder, to Everton on loan) and Danielle Turner (Defender, free agent).
Defending champions Chelsea have secured the services of Australia defender Ellie Carpenter from Lyon on a four-year contract, adding further steel to their backline. They also added Mara Alber (Forward, from Hoffenheim), Livia Peng (Goalkeeper, from Werder Bremen) and Becky Spencer (Goalkeeper, from Tottenham) But they have seen Ashanti Akpan (Midfielder, to Southampton on loan), Julia Bartel (Midfielder, to Atletico Madrid on loan), Mia Fishel (Forward, to Seattle Reign), Sophie Ingle (Midfielder, free agent), Ashleigh Lawrence (Defender, to Lyon), Zecira Musovic (Goalkeeper, to Malmo) and Maelys Mpome (Defender, to Brighton) leave.
Elsewhere, Liverpool have signed Rafaela Borggrafe (Goalkeeper, from Freiburg), Sam Kerr (Midfielder, from Bayern Munich), Kirsty Maclean (Midfielder, from Rangers) and Lily Woodham (Defender, from Seattle Reign) while letting go of Yana Daniels (Forward, free agent), Niamh Fahey (Defender, retired), Taylor Hinds (Defender, to Arsenal), Jasmine Matthews (Defender, free agent), Teagan Micah (Goalkeeper, to Lyon) and Olivia Smith (Forward, to Arsenal). Everton have signed Martina Fernandez (Defender, from Barcelona), Rion Ishikawa (Defender, from Urawa Red Diamonds), Hikaru Kitagawa (Defender, from Hacken), Maz Pacheco (Defender, from Aston Villa), Katie Robinson (Midfielder, from Aston Villa on loan) and Ornella Vignola (Forward, from Granada) while seeing Sara Holmgaard (Defender, to Real Madrid), Rikke Madsen (Forward, free agent), Maren Mjelde (Defender, free agent), Karoline Olesen (Midfielder, to Malmo), Heather Payne (Defender, free agent), Veatriki Sarri (Forward, to Birmingham City), Lauren Thomas (Midfielder, free agent) and Justine Vanhaevermaet (Midfielder, free agent) depart. Leicester have added Celeste Boureille (Midfielder, from Montpellier) and Katie Keane (Goalkeeper, from Shamrock Rovers) but have seen Sophie Howard (Defender, to Como), Lena Petermann (Forward, to Breder Wemen) and Saori Takarada (Midfielder, free agent) depart. Manchester City have signed Iman Beney (Forward, from Young Boys), Sydney Lohmann (Midfielder, from Bayern Munich), Jade Rose (Defender, from Harvard University), Eartha Cumings (Goalkeeper, from FC Rosengard) and Laura Wienroither (Defender, from Man City) while Laia Aleixandri (Defender, to Barcelona), Chloe Kelly (Winger, to Arsenal), Aemu Oyama (Midfielder , to FC Rosengard on loan) and Jill Roord (Midfielder, to FC Twente) have left. Manchester United have signed Julia Zigiotti Olme (Midfielder, from Bayern Munich) and Fridolina Rolfo (Forward, unattached - previously Barcelona) and have let go of Alyssa Aherne (Forward, free agent), Aoife Mannion (Defender, to Newcastle United), Jess Simpson (Defender, to Southampton) and Emma Watson (Midfielder, to Crystal Palace on loan). Tottenham have signed Toko Koga (Defender, from Feyenoord) and have seen Rosella Ayane (Forward, free agent), Hayley Raso (Winger, to Eintracht Frankfurt) and Becky Spencer (Goalkeeper, to Chelsea) leave. Lastly, West Ham have signed Sarah Brasero (Midfielder, from Estoril), Yu Endo (Defender, from Urawa Red Diamonds), Ffion Morgan (Forward, from Bristol City), Katelin Talbert (Goalkeeper, from Aston Villa) and Leila Wandeler (Forward, from Lyon) while Marika Bergman Lundin (Midfielder, free agent), Dagny Brynjarsdottir (Midfielder, free agent), Shannon Cooke (Defender, free agent), Emma Harries (Forward, free agent), Kirsty Smith (Defender, to Nottingham Forest) and Katelin Talbert (Goalkeeper, free agent) have left.
As the transfer deadline looms, expect further twists and turns as clubs finalize their squads for what promises to be a thrilling WSL season.