photo taken from @evertonwomen on instragram
Everton have had a busy transfer window with people leaving, joining and retiring from football. Scott Phelan joined as a Permanent Head Coach after his interim role last campaign with Lucy Hope announcing that she was retiring from professional football at the end of last season.
Five players triggered new deals with the club including two permanent deals for Zara Kramzar and Hannah Blundell, with both being on loan last season. Megan Finnigan penned a new deal until next year which puts a stay of 20 years with the toffees, with Aurora Galli adding a one year contract extension to her deal. After her ACL injury in January, Danish Forward Karen Holmgaard also added an extra year to her deal for this season. Out of all of these returnees, Zara Kramzar made a lasting first impression for the side with many of the others having injuries throughout last season.
6 players were out of contract come the end of the season with all players now having a new club. Katja Snoeijs joined Ajax after four years with the blues, but after injuries and a lack of game time for the striker, she left for more opportunities in her home country. Goalkeeper Emily Ramsey left the toffees after three years permanently and a loan deal, joining fellow WSL side Aston Villa. Her experience for the competition makes her the only player that the team will face in the WSL, with others going in different leagues and abroad (out of the ones that were out of contract). Inter Milan signed Toni Payne after her two years with the club. The Nigerian international joined Everton from Sevilla with the attacking player a person to miss on the team.
Youngster Kenzie Weir left after her contract ended and joined WSL2 side, Ipswich Town. After multiple loan moves away, nothing clicked in the blue kit for Weir but hoped to get gametime and be a pivotal player for Ipswich, after being on loan there last season. Melissa Lawley has joined WSL2 outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers and her contract ended this summer. She joined the blues in 2024 after five years with rivals, Liverpool but last season was on loan at Burnley in the FA Women’s National League. Finally, Elise Stenevik joined FC Köln after her contract wasn’t extended following a four year stay with the club. The Norwegian left back will also look for more game time ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Three players have also left the club despite still having years left on their contract but most of them wanted more game time. Kelly Gago left the north west to join London and WSL side West Ham United. The forward left after 18 months with the side and left a hole in the squad but was quickly replaced. Martina Fernandez rejoined Barcelona after being with the toffees since January 2025. The Liga F side triggered a buy back clause in the defender’s contract and after many players leaving, she hopes for gametime at her old club. Ines Pereira joined Deportivo La Coruna after two consecutive loan deals to the same club with the Goalkeeper only gaining experience, and hopes to be with Portugal in the Women’s World Cup next year.
Everton also made signings with six players signing deals and one player coming in on loan. Naomi Layzell signed a season long loan from WSL champions, Manchester City with the centre back only making three appearances last season due to injuries and hopes to get back on track. Youngster Hannah Silcock joined the blues from rivals Liverpool after 12 years with the club. After signings coming in, she fell out of favour and wants to gain more experience in the league for a big club. Goalkeeper, Rylee Foster-Imman joined the side from Canadian team, Halifax Tides but fans are already familiar with Foster and her four month spell between September 2024 – January 2025. She was with Liverpool in 2020 as the reds gave her a chance to play football again and after Emily Ramsey left the side she hopes to get game time.
Everton signed three players from Leicester City during the transfer window including one player who returns to the club after six years away. Noemie Mouchon was the first signing of the window with the forward joining after the expiry of her contract in the midlands. Hannah Cain returns to Everton on a free transfer after the Welsh International spent six years away from the north west club. Jutta Rantala was the last player to join from Leicester City after triggering a release clause in the contract with the Finnish forward spending three seasons at the club. All three will leave a goal-scoring hole in the Leicester side but due to International experience, they would want to stay in a highly competitive league to have a chance in the squad for the next world cup. Australian forward Holly McNamara joined from Melbourne City in the A-League and will wear the number nine in the blue shirt of Everton. During her time in Melbourne, she won two golden boot awards and hopes to bring her scoring expertise to England and the Women’s Super League.
Everton start their campaign in the WSL travelling to Crystal Palace on 6th September before hosting newly promoted Charlton the week later. A Merseyside derby is on the cards in the first five games of the season as they travel to Liverpool on the 27th September.