Tag: Women’s Super League

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AMY MERRICKS SHOWS FAITH IN SQUAD AS BIRMINGHAM CITY PREPARE FOR WSL RETURN

Image via @bcfcwomen on instagram

Birmingham City are one of the three clubs entering the WSL this year after being promoted from the second division as champions. The club was a founding member of the FA WSL in 2010 and stayed in the league until their relegation in 2021. However, five years later, they are back, and with an entirely new look too.

Amy Merricks was appointed as head coach in April 2024 and helped the team finish second in the league the following year. Now, in 2026 they just finished the season as FA WSL2 Champions, securing themselves a spot in the WSL, back where they belong.

As expected, the club has had an influx of departures as well as incomings in order to get the squad to where they need to be ahead of the upcoming season. Departures saw Poppy Irvine leave for Norwich City, Michaela Kovacs depart for Brondby, Lily Agg retire from football after successive injuries and take up a managing role at Athlone Town FC, Teagan McGowan sign at Ipswich Town, Christie Harrison Murray make the move to Burnley and  Lucy Quinn join Sheffield United. Adrianna Franch and Shanade Hopcroft have also left the club however their futures are currently unknown, with neither of them having been announced to sign for new clubs so far. The club has also seen the departure of three former loanees, Libby Bance has joined Leicester City on a permanent deal from Brighton, Lotta Lindstrom has departed London City Lionesses for Bristol City and Hannah Silcock has signed for Everton in the WSL.

In terms of incomings, the club kicked off the window with a bang with a double signing from Manchester United. Millie Turner joins after eight years at the club, being a part of the squad since their formation in 2018, she leaves the club after inconsistent game time following injury last season. Turner has also been called up to the England senior team on various occasions so it’s likely this move is partly in hopes to put herself in the best possible position ahead of the Women’s World Cup next summer. The defender is a proven centre back and brings wealths of experience to the backline after playing in the Champions League and winning the FA Cup in 2024. Lisa Naalsund departed Manchester United after three and a half years at the club, and she too experienced inconsistent game time last season. The Norwegian international regularly features for her national team and can play in a variety of roles in the midfield. The Blues currently have a relatively small midfield, so this will prove crucial to the club, particularly in heavy scheduling with cup competitions too. 

It soon became clear that the clubs main focus point of the summer was to strengthen the defence after Jade Rastocle was announced from Montpellier. At just 22 she already has five years of experience in senior football, meaning the club will not have to spend time adjusting her to top flight football unlike most athletes her age. Rastocle started every game in the Premiere Ligue Feminine last season and is a proven centre back, even featuring in the France Under 23’s regularly.

Next came Katie Startup, a 23 year old goal keeper who was most recently signed to Manchester City. Interestingly, this signing is likely to be third choice move, with the shotstopper having not made a competitive footballing appearance since the 2023/24 season. Startup last received regular minutes in the 2019/20 season however is also well known for her work in mental health off of the pitch.

Sophie Baggaley is the clubs most recent addition and is also a goalkeeper, having most recently played for Brighton & Hove Albion. Returning to her childhood club after nine years, the keeper will provide good competition for Lucy Thomas who spent last year as first choice with Birmingham. Baggaley received limited minutes with Brighton last season, being pushed out of the starting spot by Nnadozie after two years, however she occasionally features in England squad’s and may be looking at this move to put her in a better suited position for a potential call up for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Birmingham Cities transfer window has been relatively quiet for a club entering a new league, however it shows the trust that Amy Merricks has in her team, and may work out in favour for the club as the vast majority of players are comfortable playing with each other, and won’t have the issue of compatibility that we often see.

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WSL

Natalie Arroyo and Aston Villa aim high after new signings join in Transfer Window

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photo taken from @astonvillawomen on instagram

The window as a whole has seen big names move across the league and from overseas with the season looking to be a special one. Ahead of the new season, the villains have had 15 movements as of 9/08 with five players leaving the club, a retirement and a loan spell away from the club for a young upcoming player. Jenna Nighswonger also returned to her parent club, Arsenal after her loan spell with the club during the season. They have signed seven players permanently with six coming from overseas showing a hunger for playing in the Women’s Super League and seeing the growth of the game over in England. 

The first player the side announced was Mia McAulay from Scottish side Rangers. The Scotland International brings experience on the international stage despite being young with the forward looking to settle down and score goals, helping the side get a high finish. Next in the office and signed her name on the contract was Kamilla Melgärd from Madrid CFF. She was with the side since 2024, with the midfielder currently a U23 Norwegian International also looking to bring international experience to the squad along with many other Scandinavian players. 

The next two Scandinavian players through the door were Amalie Vansgaard and Justine Kielland. Vansgaard comes from Juventus after being there for two years with the forward already having 46 caps for the Denmark National team. Kielland comes from VfL Wolfsburg after being with the side since 2024 and the defensive midfielder has experience in European, International and Domestic football bringing a different dynamic to the midlands. 

The side have also strengthened their goalkeeping ranks bringing in Emily Ramsey and Akane Okuma. Ramsey joined from Everton after being with the North West England side since 2022, and got her first senior international call up for England in 2023. She brings experience in the WSL meanwhile Akane Okuma has her first experience in the league. She joins from INAC Kobe Leonessa after being there for two years and has international experience for Japan alongside now club-teammate, Maya Hijikata. 

Finally, on a permanent signing, Centre-back Mathilde Harviken joins from Juventus after being with the side for 18 months. She made her senior debut for the Norway side in 2022 and has featured in the EURO 2025 championship as well as the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. Lily Murphy was the most recent recruit after joining on loan from WSL side Manchester CIty. The forward has been with the side since 2022 and already brings European experience despite being so young. 

Aston Villa Team Celebration | photo taken from @astonvillawomen on instagram

Along with many incomings, there are always outgoings. Kirsty Hanson left the side after spending four seasons in the midlands and the forward joined Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the season. Young defender Lydia Sallaway joins Wrexham on loan for the season after spending last season on loan at Glasgow City. After a loan spell at Leicester City, Sarah Mayling joined the club permanently after starting in the academy and made over 100 appearances across two spells with the club. 

At the end of the season, Lucy Staniforth announced her retirement from professional football and therefore left the club with three more players leaving after their contract ended. Goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo went to Northern Super League club AFC Toronto and returned back to her home country, Canada. NWSL side Orlando Pride secured forward Gabi Nunes with Ebony Salmon joining WSL side West Ham United after their contracts ended. 

Overall, the club have had a successful window but will be impacted with the loss of their three forwards, Gabi Nunes, Ebony Salmon and Kirsty Hanson will all of them scoring in important games, especially during the previous season. Therefore, they might need more players with this calibre to fill in the void but the side hope to get a good start to the season to help with staying in the competitive league. 

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WSL

Arsenal Women look to the future after Seven Signing Summer

By Millie Poultney

Image via @Alessia on Instagram

Following on from their Champions League victory two seasons ago and the Gunners lifting the  Champions Cup earlier this year, Arsenal Women’s trophy cabinet remained mostly sparse for  the 2025/2026 season. They started the summer transfer window with the clear intention to  build on their previous successes and strengthen an already high achieving team. While the  squad has added quality in several areas with key, high profile signings, it is clear that the  departure of the likes of Katie McCabe and Beth Mead will reshape the overall performance and  drive of the squad. With the 25/26 team placing second overall for the domestic league and  qualifying for the Champions league semi final: the key question in everyone’s minds is can the  new signings help to redress the gaps that these departures leave, so that the Gunners can  touch Silverware this season.  

The club kicked off their summer by signing 27-year-old England midfielder Georgia Stanway,  who came on a free transfer from Bayern Munich. Not only did Stanway see the German side  through to winning all four league titles during her time at the club, she was also a strong,  consistent starting member of the Lionesses squad that won back to back European trophies in  2022 and 2025. Aside from this international experience, Stanway arrives at Arsenal having  competed in the national division and winning the WSL title with the Citizens in 2016.  

The number 4 is not the only midfield addition this summer, with 27-year-old Geraldine Reuteler  signing just a week later on the 8th of July. The Swiss international arrives from Eintracht  Frankfurt, where she demonstrated her versatility across a number of different positions,  operating impressively not only in midfield but also performing strongly up front as well. While  competing within the Bundesliga, it was recorded that Reuteler provided her team with seven  goals and six assists during the 2025/6 season, further demonstrating her capability of creating  opportunities for fellow teammates. Both player arrivals at the club are set to provide Renée  Slegers with dynamic yet versatile options in the midfield as they join Gunners’ veterans  including captain Kim Little.  

Re-introducing herself back into the WSL and hoping to continue her winning streak at  Barcelona, 27-year-old defender Ona Batlle joins the Gunners on a free transfer from the  Spanish side, where she made 114 appearances and scored 14 goals over her three seasons  there. In a recent interview, Renée Slegers labels her as a “full back with strong intent”. Batlle  will be greeted in North London by a familiar face in the form of midfielder Mariona Caldentey,  having played alongside the Spanish forward at Barcelona and internationally. Batlle has the  potential to be extremely helpful when creating chances for Caldentey, as they are well  acquainted with each other’s style of play. 

Arsenal’s recruitment has also not been limited to just strengthening their defence and midfield,  it is clear that the club’s main aim is to increase the capabilities and talent of the team as a  whole, not just for this season, but to lay down the foundations for years of future success.  During this particular transfer window, Arsenal Women have brought in two more significant  additions between the posts: 27-year-old Misa Rodriguez, who arrives with a considerable level  of experience both at club level from Real Madrid, and internationally for Spain, and 18-year-old  Dane Isabella Damm who joins after spending time at Arsenal on trial last season. The contrast  of the two new signings has highlighted the importance Slegers places not just on strengthening  the current squad, but also in building for the future.  

To complete the new signings, the Gunners have also expanded their current line of attack by  introducing 19-year-old young talent Lisa Baum who has joined the club off a free transfer from  the Bundesliga side R.B Leipzig, where she made 26 appearances and scored six goals in her  single season with the club. Her arrival further underlines the Gunners’ willingness to build up  important figures for the club’s future success.  

However, while the new arrivals have strengthened the likelihood of future trophies within this  team, this summer’s window has also seen notable and unexpected transfers including the  departure of left back Katie McCabe in mid-May. After eleven years at the club having made  over 305 appearances, the Irish international leaves behind a gap that includes not only skill  that might not be possible to replicate, but also a lasting legacy. The 30-year-old has joined  Chelsea Women’s Football Club on a three-year contract with an option to add on an additional  season.  

Another significant loss comes in the form of the attacking midfielder Beth Mead. Mead joined  the North London side in the January 2017 window, and since then has established herself as  one of the most reliable attackers in the national league, and during the 2021/22 season had  the most assists in the WSL as well as being the third highest goal scorer in the national  League, winning her The Golden Boot. Mead joins Manchester City on a free transfer from  Arsenal, on a three-year deal with the Citizens. Laia Codina also left for West Ham United and  Victoria Pelova signed with rival North London side Tottenham Hotspur.  

Overall, the transfer window has been a strong one for the Gunners with a new generation of  talent arriving, despite legacy players departing the club. It is now up to Renée Slegers and the  wider Arsenal team to prove that their rebuild can translate into success on the pitch for the next  season and many more to come.  

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WSL

Knaak’s last grasp header sealed three points for City in tight race for the title 

Rebecca Knaak’s header | photo taken from @mancitywomen on X

Rebecca Knaak’s Injury time header sealed all three points for the league leaders after a tight game throughout. Heading into the final day, all Manchester City need to do is win against West Ham to win their first league title since 2016. 

Manchester City got the 90 minutes underway but Liverpool saw the opening few chances including one from Aurelie Csillag just three minutes in. Her header from close range just fired over the bar but just 16 minutes in, Liverpool had another chance. They continued to pile on the pressure as Jenna Clark was next to have a header with hers also going over the crossbar, after 16 minutes. 

League leaders’ Manchester City had their first chance in the 26th minute as Lauren Hemp crossed the ball in from the left hand side, finding Bunny Shaw in the box but the shot went wide. In the 30th minute, there was the exact same movement but this time with Kerstin Casparij on the right side, finding Bunny Shaw in the box – her effort was also fired high. 

One more chance came in the final few minutes of the first half as with two minutes to go of normal time, Aurelie Csillag for Liverpool had a strike just inside the box but fired it over the bar, like many others. 

Half-time: Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool 

Manchester City started the second half brightly and how they meant to go on with multiple chances coming from Lauren Hemp in the opening five minutes of the half. Her first effort came in the 48th minute but found the hands of Jennifer Falk in the Liverpool net, with her second effort coming just two minutes later. The second attempt went straight in front of goal, failing to find anyone in the sky blue shirt. After many attempts in the next ten minutes, Kerolin had her own chance but Falk got her hands to it again and tipped it over the bar. 

Liverpool had some chances back to back both from Ceri Holland in the 74th and 76th minute, after their first substitution of the game – with both heading over the bar. Just two minutes after the last two, Aoba Fujino for Manchester City had her own chance, but had a similar action to Ceri Holland’s just that few minutes earlier. 

Six minutes were added at the end, which proved to be just right for Manchester City as just one minute in, Rebecca Knaak scored another header in the league. The defender’s effort went into the back of the net after a corner from Alex Greenwood found her from close range in the box. 

Full time: Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool 

What’s next for the sides: 

Final day looms in the WSL with Manchester City finishing their campaign away against West Ham with Liverpool hosting Arsenal, both on Sunday 16th May. Prior to the WSL finale, both are in with a chance of heading to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final. Manchester City visit Chelsea on Sunday 10th May with kick-off at 3:30PM BST and Brighton travel to Liverpool for a 12:15PM kick-off on the same day. 

How the teams looked: 

Manchester City: Yamashita, Greenwood ©, Knaak, Rose, Casparij, Hasegawa, Coffey, Hemp, Kerolin (Coombs 96’), Fujino (Fowler 84’), Shaw. 

Unused Substitutes: Beney, Blindkilde Brown, Clinton, Keating, Murphy, Ouahabi, Prior. 

Goals: Rebecca Knaak (90+1’) 

Yellow Cards: Greenwood (32’), Sam Coffey (42’) 

Liverpool: Falk, Bernabe, Fisk ©, Clark, Shimizu (Bergstrom 69’), Nagano, O’Sullivan, Holland (Woodham 88’), Olsson, Enderby, Csillag (Josendal 82’) 

Unused Substitutes: Evans, Kirby, MacLean, Shaw, Trueman. 

Yellow Cards: Fuka Nagano (51’), Ceri Holland (71’)

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WSL

SEVEN GOAL THRILLER SEES CHELSEA CLINCH THREE POINTS OVER ASTON VILLA

Image via @chelseafcw on Instagram

Chelsea FC:

Starting XI: Hampton (GK), Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, James, Thompson, Girma, Kaptein, Kerr, Bronze, Walsh © 

Substitutes: Cuthbert (53’), Baltimore (53’) Charles (73′), Potter (90′)

Aston Villa:

Starting XI: Roebuck (GK), Patten ©, Jean Francois, Wilms, Maritz, Hanson, Kendall, Grant, Deslandes, Taylor, Nighswonger

Substitutes: Hijikata (68′), Salmon (75′), D’Angelo (79′)

Chelsea FC hosted their final league game at Kingsmeadow this season earlier today in a bid to secure a spot in the leagues’ top three. The hosts have been in a battle with Manchester United since January for eventual third place in the league but with the recent Manchester derby seeing the North-West painted blue, Sonia Bompastor’s Blue’s are in high hopes for the closing stages of the season.

Last time the sides faced eachother, Chelsea won 3-1 with goals from Aggie Beever-Jones, Keira Walsh and Sam Kerr cancelling out that of Ebony Salmon. The visitors sit in eighth in the league, with just 5 wins this season but with a win, draw and a loss in each of their last three games, the game is an open affair. 

Chelsea took kick off via Lauren James in South London however failed to prove any threat from the whistle, with Lynn Wilms linking up with Chasity Grant to find the opener for Aston Villa less than two minutes in.

A promising spell infront of goal came from Chelsea in the fifth minute, with Lauren James taking aim but beiong blocked by Lynn Wilms and the deflection rolling to Veerle Buurman, who shot just wide of goal.

Throughout the next ten minutes, both sides had equal effort infront of goal, with Chelsea winning the first corner of the game. Here the ball was layed off for Lauren James who shot from the edge of the box, Ellie Roebuck however, beat her antics, safely collecting the ball at the near post. It was from here on that Chelsea found their form, dominating in possession and upping their effortinfront of goal.

Sjoeke Nusken had another promising chance in the 17th minute, with Ellie Roebuck being forced into yet another crucial save.

Sam Kerr continued her stellar form from the Asian Cup and in the 20th minute, she broke free from the Villians defence to slot one past Ellie Roebuck to close the deficit.

Just two minutes later, Chelsea found the back of the net once again, this time from Lauren James, who linked up with Alyssa Thompson on a corner once again to give Chelsea the lead for the first time today.

Chelsea maintained their dominance in the following minutes, with Lauen James claiming the ball on the edge of the box and slotting the ball past the Villa keeper once more. That’s three goals in eight minutes for the current league champions.

Chelsea’s glory didn’t last for long however, with Aston Villa making an effort to close the gap in the 32nd minute, this time through Kirsty Hanson who did just that, making the score 3-2 to the Blues.

Just four minutes later, Villa broke through the Chelsea defence once again, with Kirsty Hanson finding her second and Villa’s third, closing the gap once again.

With a break in play due to a suspected injury on Sjoeke Nusken, both teams took the time to recalibrate, assumingly attempting to erase their defensive woes.

With three minutes added time on the clock, Aston Villa had one final push on goal, this however lead to nothing, with the Blue’s reclaiming possession and earning the final touch of the half.

Half time: Chelsea 3-3 Aston Villa

With the second half underway, Chelsea looked slightly more dominant on the ball. Whilst failing to provide any real threat infront of goal, Alyssa Thompson did win a free kick for the hosts, this however led to nothing with the attempt being blocked.

In the 53rd minute, Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore took to the field, replacing Wieke Kaptein and Naomi Girma in an attempt to bolster the Blue’s attack from further back on the pitch.

Throughout the next ten minutes, Chelsea began their dominance in possession once again, with the ball rarely leaving Chelsea’s attacking third. Despite Lucy Bronze’s headed attempt on goal, the Blue’s were yet to find a difference maker.

In the 67th minute, Villa made their first substitution of the game, replacing Miri Taylor with Maya Hijikata in her return from the Asian Cup.

Chelsea had a few more promising chances on goal however, despite their best efforts, Ellie Roebuck’s experience was proven best throughout.

Before long, Niamh Charles made her return to the pitch, replacing Alyssa Thompson and taking her first competitive touches in more than three months due to injury.

Just two minutes later, Chastity Grant made way for Ebony Salmon before Ellie Roebuck was also forced off the field through injury, forcing Sabrina D’Angelo to the field.

In the 82nd minute, Chelsea came alive once more, with Sjoeke Nusken linking up with Chelsea’s Australian duo, Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter to produce Chelsea’s fourth and final goal of the game.

The following stages followed much the same from both sides, with Aston Villa trying to equalise once again and Chelsea wanting to guarantee a victory.

For the villains, this meant a rattle of the bar from Kirsty Hanson as well as a missed header from Anna Patten in a desperate bid to squash the deficit once and for all. These both however proved too little too late, with the match finishing 4-3 to the hosts.

Full time: Chelsea 4-3 Aston Villa