Millie Winslett

A New Era at Manchester United: Rebuilding for the Future

Image via @manutdwomen on Instagram

Manchester United are undergoing a significant period of change this summer, with the squad set to look markedly different ahead of the 2026/27 season. Manchester United kick-off their season away to London City Lionesses on Friday 4^thSeptember.

However, United will not only enter the new season without several pivotal and recognisable names, but they will also be without long-standing manager Marc Skinner. Skinner penned a deal for United in 2021, succeeding the club’s first manager Casey Stoney following her resignation. In August, the club released a statement that Skinner would depart the club by mutual agreement. His departure has paved the way for the appointment of head coach, Eva Olid, who now faces the challenges of not only making her mark on the Women’s Super League but also overseeing significant changes at a club that was only established in 2018.

Manchester United established their women’s team in 2018 and this summer has seen two of their inaugural players depart, leaving Ella Toone as the only remining player from the start of the club’s professional career.

The first of these departures was Leah Galton. It was announced that Leah Galton would depart the club following the expiration of her contract. Galton made 171 appearances for the club throughout her time scoring 41 goals. She is the club’s second all-time leading goal scorer behind Ella Toone and the club’s leading WSL goal scorer.

Galton was a part of the historic team who lifted the FA Cup in the 2023/24 season, as well as being a two-time FA Cup finalist. Galton will play a significant loss for United, not only through the attacking threat she provides but also through the experience she brought to the dressing room. Galton possessed a unique understanding of United’s development and identity and will leave a irreplaceable absence. Galton is currently a free agent and yet to sign for a club.

Another significant loss for United is fellow inaugural squad member, Millie Turner. Turner’s role as centre back was essential to United’s success especially during their FA cup winning campaign in 2024. Like Galton, Turner’s absence will be most noticed off the pitch with her leadership and comradery leaving a noticeable void within the squad.

This absence is reflected in her recent appointment as captain for the newly promoted Birmingham City, proving she is an established and influential leader in the WSL, qualities that defined her eight years at Manchester United.

Other significant losses in defence include Hannah Blundell and Gabby George. Blundell joined United in 2021, signing from Emma Hayes’ Chelsea. She went on to make 95 appearances for the club despite spending the 24/25 season on maternity leave. In January 2026, Blundell signed for fellow WSL team Everton on loan for the remainder of the season and has now signed a permanent deal with the Toffees.

George joined the team in 2023 from Everton and established herself as a versatile defender who could play both full-back and centre back, making 54 appearances in total. George has now signed a permanent deal with Brighton and Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.

United have also lost Norwegian midfielder Lisa Naalsund to Birmingham City, and while the midfielder did not establish herself as a consistent first-team starter, she still provided valuable experience and flexibility in midfield. Her departure adds to the wider trend of established and experienced players leaving this summer.

Academy player, Sienna Wareing has also left the club to join West Ham, signing her first professional contract.

The final permanent departure and another serious absence for Manchester United is French attacker, Melvine Malard. Malard signed for United on a permeant deal after a loan spell there in the 2023/24 season. Malard has just come off her most successful season at the club, contributing 10 goals and 9 assists across all competitions.

Her form this season naturally attracted interest, and with only a year remaining on her contract, United ultimately sold her to Chelsea for a reported fee of £800,000, a club record sale.

This sale could arguably be the wisest long-term decision for the club, with future developments in this position holding greater value than holding onto a striker for a season before losing her for no money. Additionally, securing a substantial transfer fee allows the club to reinvest in the squad, giving an opportunity to explore and pursue younger attacking profiles.

Manchester United have also opted to send two young goalkeepers on loan. Kayla Rendell has joined WSL2 side Newcastle United, and academy graduate Safia Middleton-Patel has returned to Watford on loan after spending the back-half of 2023/24 season there.

Both moves provide good opportunities for the goalkeepers giving them both regular, starting experiences that would have been difficult to achieve at United. This opportunity is giving them the perfect time to develop, allowing them to return to United better-equipped and ready to challenge for a first-team position.

Despite these significant exits only three signing have been made for Manchester United’s new era.

Arguably their most experienced signing comes in the form of goalkeeper, Janina Leitzig. Leitzig has signed a permanent deal from Leicester City, bring a wealth of WSL experience to the team with over 65 WSL appearances.

Leitzig’s arrival is unlikely to be viewed as a permanent second-choice goalkeeper but instead will provide genuine competition for Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Competition for the number-one spot will strengthen both goalkeeper’s abilities overall enhancing Olid’s options in a crucial position.

A further defensive signing come in the form of young left back, Andrea Medina. The 22-year-old is a versatile defender signing from Spanish side Atlético Madrid on a three-year deal until 2029. The defender won the Copa de la Reina with Atlético in 2023 and internationally won the U20 Women’s World Cup with Spain. While the defender is not set to make an immediate impact, she brings an impressive squad depth to the back line also acting as a long-term solution for Manchester United’s new era.

Manchester United’s final signing arrives in the form of talented winger Monica Jusu Bah. The Swedish international signs from BK Hacken off the back of 16 goals and 8 assists last season. Jusu Bah has signed a permanent deal keeping her at the club until 2030. Jusu Bah given the opportunity, could be the perfect long-term solution for Malard’s absence in attack, yet how quickly she adapts to the fast-past nature of the WSL could be the defining factor in her success.

Overall, Manchester United have undergone a major transformation this summer, both on and off the pitch. The arrival of Eva Olid is the perfect example of an attempt to establish a new identity for the team with her signings set to be built around versatility and long-term potential.

However, the undoubtable question is will this short-term risk pay off this season or is it instead a ploy to set up for the future of the club.

The Addicks’ WSL Rebuild: Karen Hills’ Summer of Change

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By Millie Winslett

Image via @elliemason16 on Instagram

Charlton Athletic are preparing for their first season back in the top flight of women’s football since the club’s collapse and following relegation in 2007. Head Coach Karen Hills led her team to Women’s Super League promotion after beating Leicester City on penalties in the league’s historic first play-off game.

Hills’ team is one of three newly promoted sides alongside Birmingham City and Crystal Palace and looks to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with after coming agonisingly close to promotion previously, finishing third, second and fourth in three consecutive seasons in the WSL2.

The Addicks have made numerous changes to their squad as they prepare for their opening fixture against Liverpool on September 6^th. Charlton Athletic announced six departures from their promotion-winning side following the expiration of their contracts. Departures saw defender Gracie Pearse sign for Sheffield United after two and half years, midfielder Emma Bissell sign for Bristol City and the midfielder Frankie Finlayson, who established herself in the senior squad after playing PGA, leaves with no confirmed club. Karin Muya has joined Watford after three years, and experienced midfielder Katie Bradley, who scored 13 goals across her two-year spell at the club, has penned a deal with Newcastle United. Finally, Amalie Thestrup has signed for Danish side Brøndby, leaving a significant loss on Charlton’s attack and young midfielder Keira Flannery has returned to parent club West Ham after a season-long loan.

Despite these outgoings changing how Hills’s team will line up this season, there is still familiarity surrounding the team, with the club extending the contracts of multiple players who were part of the promotion-winning squad. Goalkeeper Anna Pederson has extended her contract for one year alongside defenders Ellie Mason, Lucia Lobato, Gloria Siber, Elisha N’Dow and Charlotte Newsham. Carla Humphrey has extended her contract for one year after her maternity leave, with fellow midfielder Lucy Fitzgerald and forward Gillian Kenney also set to stay at the club until 2027.

After securing their retained list of players, the Addicks kicked off their transfer window with loan signing Paula Partido. The 21-year-old Spaniard is joining Hills’ squad from London City Lionesses on a season-long loan. Partido signed for London City in August 2025, from Real Madrid, ahead of their first season in the WSL. However, she kicked off the 2025/26 season on loan to Spanish team Logroño United where she made 16 appearances with one goal and one assist before being recalled to her parent club in the January transfer window. Taking on the number seven, Partido is a versatile player who can play both in midfield and as a forward, providing a talented attacking option for the Addicks.

Hills added another young, versatile player in Grace Johnston. The defender, who is also comfortable in midfield, signed a two-year contract with the option to extend for a further year. Johnston played every minute of Perth Glory’s 2025/26 campaign, earning herself Perth’s 2026 Best Young Player.

Next came goalkeeper Anna Koivunen, who signed from Swedish side Djurgårdens. The Finnish international played in last year’s Women’s Euros in Switzerland, keeping a clean sheet in their opening game against Iceland. Koivunen will take the number 24; while she won’t be the first-choice goalkeeper, she will be an excellent option for cup games and a long-term solution in between the sticks.

Hills continued to strengthen her midfield by bringing in Leah Davidson on a two-year deal from Melbourne City. The midfielder made 80 appearances, winning the premiership three times, including the 2025/26 season.

Then came another loan signee, Lorena Azzuro. Taking on the number nine for a season from Paris FC, Azzuro is an out-and-out striker who has scored 8 goals in 19 appearances since her signing with the club in August 2025. The young French forward will bring an exciting flair to the Addicks’ attack, but having only played in France, it may take time to adapt to the WSL.

Rounding up their transfer window are two players who are not shy of the competitive nature of the WSL. First came experienced full-back Ashleigh Neville. The new number 29 made 115 WSL appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, making her the first Spurs player to reach 100 appearances in the league. Her success for Spurs does not end there, with her playing a vital role as a historic finalist in the FA Cup final at Wembley back in 2024. In January 2026, Neville signed for Leicester City, making 13 appearances across all competitions. Neville will bring an insightful experience to Charlton, knowing both the nature of the league and its competitors well.

Complementing her comes Australian International Emily Van Egmond. The box-to-box midfielder, who can bring an attacking threat to the Addicks, signed from Leicester City on a one-year contract with an option to extend. Van Egmond has a plethora of experience in senior football, having played in the NWSL, Frauen-Bundesliga and both the WSL and WSL2. Having plenty of experience in the English league, Van Egmond made 21 appearances for West Ham and 15 starting appearances for Leicester City and is no stranger to fighting relegation. The midfielder made her senior debut for the Matildas in 2010, currently securing 33 goals and over 170 appearances. This experience both domestically and internationally will bring leadership in a particularly young side.

Overall, Charlton Athletic have had a successful transfer window, Hills has added much-needed experience to her squad while retaining the youthful energy that secured promotion. The new arrivals have strengthened key areas across the pitch, particularly in attack following the departures of several players whose contracts expired, while also adding valuable leadership and experience to help guide the younger members of the squad.

However, questions remain over the consistency and continuity of the squad, with significant changes being made to the team that became victorious in the play-offs. This means Hills must integrate several new players and build effective chemistry within the squad in time for the WSL’s opening fixture. How quickly the new-look Charlton side can gel could prove crucial in how they return to the top flight.