On Saturday, 30th August, Chloe Sarwie made her first-team debut for Chelsea after catching the eye in the U18s. The teenager not only impressed new manager Sonia Bompastor but also won the approval of the fans at Kingsmeadow.
International Career
Sarwie earned her first England call-up in late 2024, joining the U17 squad for the UEFA European Championship qualifiers. She made an immediate impact, scoring a low-driven strike from outside the box on her debut against the Faroe Islands, helping England to a 7-0 win. It was the perfect introduction: her first international start, her first international goal.
She continued to feature in the campaign, gaining further minutes off the bench before stepping into a different role during the second round of qualifiers in March 2025. Starting both matches in defence, Sarwie showcased her remarkable versatility — equally comfortable across the pitch, whether in attack or at the back.
England’s campaign ended in disappointment with a 3-1 defeat in their final qualifier, but for Sarwie it was just the beginning. Shortly after turning 16, she was called up to the U19 squad. Although she didn’t make an appearance, her inclusion at that level spoke volumes about the faith England coaches already have in her potential. The experience of training in a tournament environment, at a higher age group, is invaluable preparation for what looks to be a bright future with the senior team.
Club Career
A product of Chelsea’s highly regarded academy, Sarwie currently plays for the U18s but is already knocking on the door of the first team. She was first named in a senior squad for the WSL clash with Tottenham in May, gaining a taste of the matchday experience even without getting on the pitch.
Her official debut came just a few months later, when she came off the bench for Mayra Ramírez in the 34th minute of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against AC Milan on 30th August. Despite her age, Sarwie made an immediate impression with her pace, physical presence, and tactical adaptability — able to slot into different positions with ease.
Breaking into a senior squad stacked with world-class talent at just 16 is no small achievement. Twice already she has proven she belongs in that environment, underlining why many inside the club view her as one of Chelsea’s most exciting prospects.
Chloe Sarwie is more than just one for the future — she is already showing signs of being a player capable of shaping both Chelsea’s and England’s next generation. With her versatility, drive, and maturity beyond her years, it feels inevitable that we will see her on the biggest stages again very soon.
Remember the name: Chloe Sarwie.
Chloe Sarwie playing against AC Milan. Photo: Chelsea FC
The tournament was for the memory books after 22,542 watched the final on Sunday and Northern Superchargers won their first title at Lord’s. Over the past 5 years, 1.5 million spectators have attended a Women’s Hundred match.
Game 25: Northern Superchargers (127-3) vs Oval Invincibles (125-6)
The home side won against Oval Invincibles by 7 wickets after chasing the target and reaching it after 95 balls. Invincibles became the third side to be eliminated from the competition after their loss.
Oval Invincibles standout players were bowler Phoebe Franklin and batter Lauren Winfield-Hill. Phoebe Franklin was their standout bowler, after playing 10 balls and only letting the Superchargers put on 15 runs – also getting a wicket to her name too. Lauren Winfield-Hill faced 30 balls and put 37 runs on the board before being caught out by Kate Cross.
Northern Superchargers standouts were bowler Kate Cross and batter Alice Davidson-Richards. Kate Cross was the standout bowler after using all 20 balls but only allowed them to put 16 runs on the board and got two wickets. Davidson-Richards faced 32 balls and reached half a century before getting caught and bowled out by Sophia Smale.
Game 26: London Spirit (125-8) vs Southern Brave (126-2)
Southern Brave was the first team to book their place in the final after winning by 8 wickets after chasing the 125 target, reaching it after 94 balls.
London Spirit standout players were batter Cordelia Griffith and bowler Issy Wong. Despite letting them put on the most amount of runs (34), she was the only bowler to have two wickets to her name as well. Cordelia Griffith faced 34 balls and helped her side add 44 runs to the board before being caught out by Lauren Bell.
Southern Brave’s standouts were batter Laura Wolvaardt and bowler Mady Villiers. Wolvaardt faced 40 balls and reached 56 runs before Brave reached their target after being not out. Mady Villiers was the standout bowler despite allowing the opposition to put the most runs on the board (38) from all her balls, she had 3 wickets to her name, and caught one.
Game 27: Welsh Fire (122-9) vs Trent Rockets (145-6)
Trent Rockets won the game setting the target after Welsh Fire won the toss and decided to field first, giving advantage to the travelling side.
Welsh Fire’s Batter Sophia Dunkley and Bowler Georgia Davis were the standout performers. Dunkley faced 23 balls and added 26 runs before being bowled and caught out by Ash Gardner. Davis used all her 20 balls and allowed the side to put on 26 runs as well as having three wickets to her name.
Trent Rockets stand out players were Bowler Alana King and Batter Nat Sciver-Brunt. Alana King played all her 20 balls only allowing Fire to put on 17 runs as well as having three wickets. Nat Sciver- Brunt faced 26 balls and put 38 runs on the board (the highest alongside Bryony Smith).
Southern Brave’s Freya Kemp | photo from @thehundred on X
Game 28: Manchester Originals (95-All Out) vs Birmingham Phoenix (111-3)
Birmingham Phoenix won the toss, deciding to bat first which paid off after Manchester Originals failed to reach the target and the away side won by 16 runs.
Manchester Originals’ standout performers were batter Seren Smale and bowler Deandra Dottin. Seren Smale faced 34 balls and had 29 runs before being caught out by Phoebe Brett. Dottin only used 10 balls, with the Phoenix side putting 4 runs on and had one wicket.
For Birmingham Phoenix, their standout players were batter Ellyse Perry and bowler Megan Schutt. Perry faced 48 balls, reached half a century (55) runs and finished the innings ‘not out’. Schutt used all her 20 balls, only allowed the originals’ side to put 14 runs on the board and had three wickets to her name.
Game 29: Oval Invincibles (108-8) vs London Spirit (112-2)
After London Spirit won the toss, they decided to field first which paid off after they only needed 62 balls to reach their target of 108 runs.
Oval Invincibles standout performers were batter Marizanne Kapp and bowler Phoebe Franklin. Marizanne Kapp faced 25 balls and helped put 32 runs on the board including four 4’s. Franklin only used 7 of her 20 balls but had the best performance after she allowed them to put 10 runs on and had two wickets.
London Spirit standout players were batter Kira Chathli and bowlers Eva Gray and Charlie Dean. Chathli faced 29 balls and reached half a century (53) before being bowled out by Franklin. Both Eva Gray and Charlie Dean were standout bowlers after both using all 20 balls and both had 12 runs and two wickets.
Game 30: Northern Superchargers (96-2) vs Manchester Originals (94-All Out)
After winning the toss and deciding to field, the hosts only needed 65 balls to reach the target Originals set of 94 runs securing a place in the eliminator later on in the week.
Northern Superchargers standout player was Annabel Sutherland for both her bowling and batting abilities. Sutherland was not out throughout after facing just 17 balls and helped put 30 runs on the board including one six. She also used all her 20 balls but let the opposition put 15 runs on the board and had three wickets.
Manchester Originals standout performers were batter Alice Monaghan and bowler Lauren Filer. Alice Monaghan was the best batter on the field after facing just 17 runs and putting the most runs on the board for the originals (26). Lauren Filer bowled out Alice Davidson-Richards and caught out Davina Perrin after using only 15 of her balls and let the home side put on 16 runs.
Game 31: Trent Rockets (126-7) vs Birmingham Phoenix (123-6)
Birmingham Phoenix won the toss and decided to bat first but it didn’t pay off after they set the target of 123 and the hosts reached that with 3 balls spare.
Trent Rockets standouts were Batter Nat Sciver-Brunt and bowler Kirstie Gordon. Nat Sciver-Brunt reached half a century from 29 balls including two 6s before being caught out by Megan Schutt. Kirstie Gordon used all her 20 balls and although she allowed Phoenix to put on 27 runs on the board, she also helped get out Ellyse Perry and Ailsa Lister.
Birmingham Phoenix’s best players were batter Emma Lamb and bowler Phoebe Brett. Emma Lamb faced 42 balls and reached half a century (56 runs), staying in throughout the innings. Phoebe Brett used all her 20 balls and allowed Rockets to put on 19 runs but also had three wickets to her name.
London Spirit | photo from @thehundred on X
Game 32: Southern Brave (106-8) vs Welsh Fire (77-9)
The final game of the tournament prior to the eliminator and the final saw Southern Brave win by 29 runs against Welsh Fire at home. Despite not winning the toss, the home side set the target of 106 but the toss winners failed to reach the target.
Southern Braves standout players were batter Georgia Adams and bowler Lauren Bell. Georgia Adams faced 26 balls and added 30 runs on the board to help her side get 106 ahead. Bell used all her 20 balls and only allowed fire to put on six runs including four wickets.
Welsh Fires standout players were batter Tammy Beaumont and bowler Hayley Matthews. Beaumont faced 33 balls and reached 28 runs before being caught out by Mady Villiers. Hayley Matthews used all 20 balls, only allowed the home side to put 16 runs on the board and had two wickets.
Eliminator: Northern Superchargers (214-5) vs London Spirit (172-9)
Superchargers went through to the final against Southern Brave after setting a massive target of 214 but Spirit failed to reach it.
Superchargers’ Davina Perrin hit the fastest century in Women’s Hundred and the second fastest overall with the total also being the highest in the competition and second highest overall.
The standout performers for Northern Superchargers were batter Davina Perrin and bowler Grace Ballinger, Perrin reached 101 runs after 42 balls including five 6’s before being run out from Charli Knott. Ballinger used all her 20 balls, only allowed 22 runs on the board and had 3 wickets to her name.
London Spirit standouts were bowler Sarah Glenn and batter Georgia Redmayne. Glenn used all her 20 balls and allowed the opposition to put 33 runs on the board but also had one wicket to her name from Sutherland. Redmayne reached half a century from 30 balls and was not out throughout the innings.
Final: Southern Brave (115-6) vs Northern Superchargers (119-3)
Hitting a six on the final ball, Northern Superchargers won the competition after chasing 115 runs from Southern Brave and only needing 88 balls to do so.
Brave’s standout players of the game was bowler Chloe Tryon and batter Freya Kemp. Tryon used 15 balls and only allowed 19 runs on the board as well as helping Phoebe Litchfield out. Kemp faced 17 balls and reached 26 runs before being caught out by Nicola Carey.
Superchargers standout players were bowler Kate Cross and batter Annabel Sutherland. Kate Cross used all her 20 balls and allowed 23 runs on the board but also had 2 wickets to her name (Maia Bouchier and Laura Wolvaardt). Sutherland faced 25 balls and put the most runs on the board for the northern side (35), as well as being not out.
Northern Superchargers | photo from @thehundred on X
After Arsenal’s Champions League glory last season, they had a surprisingly quiet transfer window although they had a handful of key moves in order to strengthen the squad.
Young Gunners Cecily Wellesley-Smith and Jessie Gale both committed their futures to the club by signing their first professional contracts.
After a highly successful loan spell throughout the second half of last season, Chloe Kelly has rejoined Arsenal permanently. The forward, who rediscovered her love for the game back in North London, will add attacking depth and experience ahead of the new season.
Arsenal dipped into the WSL market, signing Liverpool duo Taylor Hinds and Olivia Smith.
Olivia Smith, a 21-year-old midfielder arrives for a record breaking fee. Smith also holds the record for being Canada’s all time youngest player after making her debut for the national team at the age of 15 in 2019.
Taylor Hinds makes a return to the Gunners after 8 years away. Having joined the academy in 2010 at just the age of 11. She continued to impress at the club and broke into the first team during the 2017/2018 season before moving on to develop her career. Now back as a Jamaican international, the versatile midfielder will bring maturity and resilience to the squad.
Arsenal also added experience between the sticks, with the arrival of German goalkeeper Anneke Borbe who joined the club from Wolfsburg.
Departures:
Alongside the arrivals, Arsenal also saw several outgoings.
Michelle Ageymang and Rosa Kafaji have been loaned out to Brighton while Laila Harbert has joined Portland Thorns on loan.
Following successful loan spells at London City Lionesses, Teyah Goldie and Freya Godfrey have now made their moves permanent.
Laura Wienrother has also completed a permanent transfer to Manchester City, after impressing during her loan spell.
Meanwhile, Lina Hurtig has signed for Fiorentina and Amanda Illestedt has signed for Frankfurt.
Although it’s not yet confirmed, it’s looking increasingly likely that Lia Walti will join Italian side Juventus before the transfer window closes, bringing a close to her seven year spell at Arsenal.
Chloe Kelly playing for Arsenal Women against Brighton. Photo: Charlotte Neal for Constancy Sport
Manchester City kick off the 2025/26 WSL Season as they head to Chelsea on Friday. Last season was a disappointing season for the blues after they finished outside the top 3 but with a new manager in charge and some new faces in the squad they look to get back where they belong.
Joining Manchester City were Sydney Lohmann (Bayern Munich), Jade Rose (Harvard University), Iman Beney (Young Boys), Laura Wienroither (Arsenal), and Eartha Cummings (Rosengard). Laura Coombs, Lily Murphy, Codie Thomas and Mayzee Davies all also signed a new contract extension.
Nick Cushing was interim head coach after the loss of Gareth Taylor in March but he moved to new side Denver Summit FC. Andrée Jeglertz joined the north west from Denmark Women’s National Team ahead of the campaign.
Leaving Manchester this window was Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Laia Aleixandri (Barcelona) and Jill Roord (FC Twente) with Aemu Oyama going out on loan to Rosengard. Although there are a couple days left of the window, there could still be some comings and goings.
There’s plenty of players to watch but some players people might not know about are Canadian Jade Rose and Swiss forward Iman Beney from Harvard University and Young Boys respectively.
Jade Rose:
The Canadian became City’s first signing of the summer, signing for four years until 2029. The 22 year old arrives from Harvard University as the exciting defender looks to make the step into professional domestic football.
She received a number of Ivy League accolades in her 4 years and was voted Young Women’s Player of the Year for Canada in 2023, already having 28 Senior international appearances to her name.
When speaking to her new club, she stated that: “I think the sky is the limit for this team and I can’t wait to grow and get at it.” Taking over from Laia Aleixandri, she will wear the number 4 in her debut campaign.
Iman Beney:
Already a fully fledged Swiss International, the 18 year old heads to the WSL after winning the league title with BSC Young Boys Frauen. Last season, she finished with nine goals in 22 appearances and earned her spot in the Swiss Super League Team of the Season.
The youngster has an eye for goal and is a dynamic player who will be one to watch in the team this season, especially if people are not familiar with her game.
The fans got an early glimpse of how she plays in their open training session earlier this summer and also got to see how she plays when she had a pivotal part in the home tournament.
When speaking to Manchester City, she said: “For my development, City is the best place. I think it’s a good fit.” The youngster will also wear the number 24 shirt for this campaign.
With the transfer window drawing to a close next week WSL newcomers, London City Lionesses, are certainly looking promising heading into the 25/26 season. With 15 signings and 13 departures, Hayes Lane is set to house an outstanding 25 player team this year.
Between the sticks, former loanee Sophia Poor made her loan deal permanent before heading to Nottingham Forest on loan for the upcoming season. Elene Lete also switched San Sebastián for London, bringing a wealth of experience having won the UEFA Nations League with Spain as well as representing them in the Olympics.
London City Lionesses’ defence was undoubtedly their main focus points this window with a staggering seven transfers, almost half of their signings. Starting things off, Teyah Goldie made her loan move from Arsenal permanent after impressing both Joecelyn Prêcheur and the fans last season. As well as this, we saw the additions of Isa Kardinaal, Poppy Pattinson and Elena Linari, bringing a mix of youth and experience to the side.
More recently, Jana Fernandez joined the blues for free amid Barcelona Femení’s attempts to downsize and cuts squad costs, later being joined by Australia international, Alanna Kennedy, both of whom bring a wealth of experience both domestically and internationally despite their contrasting ages. One final signing saw 19-year-old Wassa Sangaré join the side on a one year loan deal from Lyon.
The midfield had a seemingly quiet transfer window in terms of numbers however huge in terms of names with Danïelle van de Donk and Katie Zelem joining the side at either ends of the window, both players who bring experience in terms of domestic and international appearances and leadership roles in former captaincy for Katie Zelem. Paula Partido put pen to paper in early August however will be spending the season on loan to Dux Logrono in Liga F.
The Blues are set to have a bolstering attack in the coming season with three new members to compete with last seasons championship winners. Sanni Franssi was the team’s second signing of the summer, joining the club from Real Sociedad in Liga F before later being joined by former Arsenal loanee, Freya Godfrey. Nikita Parris was the teams most recent attacking signing, joining the club after a season on the south coast with Brighton & Hove Albion last year.
Despite a whopping fifteen signings already being made, the idea of Beth Mead joining the side has been the talk of the summer. The 30-year-old has spent the last eight years in north London and has two European championships to her name as well as a Champions league title so would bring a wealth of experience to the squad, talks have however appeared to come to a halt with Mead seen in and amongst Arsenals first team since her return from Switzerland this summer.
(All transfers accurate as of 30th August 2025)
London City Lionesses celebrating promotion to the Women’s Super League (05.05.2025 – @Isobel_goodwinx on Instagram)
