Barclays WSL returns for the 23/24 season. Photo Credit: Barclays WSL via Instagram
It’s the weekend we’ve all been waiting for… this Sunday marks the opening games of the Women’s Super League. With twelve English clubs all battling it out for silverware, this season is more exciting then ever.
Want to get the low-down on each team ahead of kick-off? Here’s a rundown of what to expect from every club in the top flight.
Arsenal
It was a testing season for Arsenal last campaign as their injury record was relentless. First losing centre-back duo Leah Williamson and Rafaelle Souza early in the season meant that the likes of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Jen Beattie had to step up in defence. Arsenal then went on to lose their two most crucial goal-scorers Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema in the space of a month as they both suffered ruptured ACLs. Vice-captain Leah Williamson and fullback Laura Wienroither also suffered the devastating injury later in the season, as well as captain Kim Little sidelined also with a knee injury. The frequency of these injuries was unexplainable, but it was the team’s never-say-die attitude that pulled them through and brought them some success over the season.
With the crucial part of their attacking line out, Arsenal had to reinvent their attack and rely on the likes of Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius to provide the goals. And they certainly took on the challenge, Maanum finishing the season with 16 goals and 5 assists in all competitions. Blackstenius also found her form in the second half of the season, gaining a newfound confidence in front of goal.
Arsenal also had a strong Champions League campaign, their strongest moment was certainly thrashing Champions Lyon 5-1 in October. After a comeback against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, they took on Wolfsburg in the semis, managing to hold them to a draw away, but losing out to a last-minute goal at home. It was a bittersweet moment, a gutting result but a sold-out Emirates for the Gunners and reaching a semi-final despite their injury crisis were still positives to take from the season.
Arsenal did get their hands on silverware this season as they beat Chelsea to claim the Continental Cup, coming 1-0 down to beat the Blues 3-1. They also managed to claim a Champions League qualification spot for this season after beating Manchester City to third place in the WSL on goal difference. However, a draw to Paris FC saw them get knocked out on penalties in the first stage of qualification.
With Champions League no longer a prospect this season, Arsenal’s full focus will be on winning the WSL. With injured players returning such as Mead and Miedema, they’re getting back to their strongest squad, and Eivevall’s new signings will only bolster this. The biggest talking point of the transfer window was Manchester United’s Alessia Russo: after record-bids from Arsenal in January, she moved to the London club on a free upon the expiry of her contract. The striker has already shone for Arsenal, scoring two goals in their draw against Paris, and also had a huge role to play for England in the World Cup. Another forward will allow more squad rotation, rest, and hopefully less injuries to the front-line.
Arsenal also brought in forward Cloe Lacasse from Benfica, as well as Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt from PSG who had a fantastic World Cup, scoring 4 goals for her country. 23-year old former Barcelona player and World Cup winner Laia Codina also became a Gunner, and last minute, Arsenal were able to get Australian midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross over the line.
It was a huge and rather unexpected loss as Rafaelle Souza departed the club to join NWSL side Orlando Pride. It’s a real blow especially given other centre-back Leah Williamson also remains sidelined, but new signings have certainly bolstered their defence. It’s just that right-back role that still seems to be lacking.
Arsenal first take on Liverpool at the Emirates. With all their fans behind them, it’s a must-win for the Gunners to put things right and start their campaign as they mean to go on. With hopefully less injuries this season, now’s the chance for Arsenal to showcase their full potential.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa had a season to be incredibly proud of. During their three seasons in the top flight, they’ve soared from tenth to ninth to finishing a comfortable fifth place last season on 37 points. Carla Ward has developed a side that can challenge the top four, through a sustainable and exciting project that will attract and retain some of the best players in the game.
It’s a no-brainer that Rachel Daly had a huge role to play in Villa’s success last season. The striker arrived from NWSL side Houston Dash and playing as a left-back internationally, many people following the English league perhaps weren’t aware of her attacking qualities. Daly proved herself straight away, scoring two goals on her debut as the Villains beat Man City 4-3 on the opening day. She started like she meant to go on, rounding off her season with 22 goals in 22 games, equalising Vivianne Miedema and becoming the first English player to do so.
Daly also scored a 97th minute winner against Man City to see Villa through to their first ever FA Cup semi-final, missing out on the final through a Chelsea defeat. The versatile two-footed forward had such an impressive season that even Sarina Wiegman made the decision to play her as England’s striker. Being the WSL’s top goal-scorer, it seems obvious. Daly not only impressed individually, but her link-ups with her new teammates have also took Villa to another level. Most eminently, her partnership with Kenza Dali has been a weapon against other teams, with the pair having also played together at West Ham.
Manager Carla Ward is well-known for her strengths in recruitment, and this summer was no different. With first-choice keeper Hannah Hampton departing for Chelsea, Villa brought in Netherlands international Daphne Van Domselaar. The Ballon d’Or nominee took the spotlight this World Cup replacing the injured Sari van Veedendall, earning plaudits for her sharp reflexes. Forward Ebony Salmon returns to the club after a spell in the NWSL, as well as forward Adriana Leon from Manchester United, looking for increased game time. Not only will these signings bolster the front line and create competition for starter Rachel Daly, but they also allow for squad rotation which should help with injuries and fatigue. As well as defender Lucy Parker making the move from West Ham, Anna Pattern and Kirsty Hanson also sign permanent deals after loan spells at the club. Apart from Hampton, most of Villa’s departures seem to have been players who haven’t been able to prove themselves through lack of game time because of injuries- these include Remi Allen, Ruesha Littlejohn and Emily Gielnik.
It’s clear that Ward has signed players which creates a real togetherness within the squad but also a solid foundation of quality players to build on and try and break into the top four. Villains will be delighted that she’s signed a new contract, keeping her at the club for the upcoming season with an option to extend. However, Villa still have a way until they break in as a ‘top four’ club. They suffered some heavy defeats last season, including 5-0 to Manchester United and a 4- loss to Arsenal. They have a huge first game of the campaign, taking on United on Sunday, and they’ll be hoping to set the tone of their season by taking all three points.
Brighton
This campaign, Brighton are certainly a team to watch. They had a turbulent and frustrating last season with relegation just nipping their heels, as they finished 11th on 16 points, having won just four games. Things weren’t helped early on when manager Hope Powell stepped down in November after a 8-0 defeat by Spurs. It was Powell who led Brighton to their best ever season in 20/21, finishing in 5th place. However, the Seagulls did have an impressive run in the FA Cup last season, just narrowly missing out on the final after losing to Man United 3-2 by a late winner. Their growing fanbase was certainly another highlight, with record attendances for WSL games broken for the club last season.
It was perhaps their disappointing campaign which has caused a huge summer of change for Brighton. While new manager Melissa Philips joined in the spring, captain Dan Carter and club legend defender Victoria Williams both departed this transfer window. Goalkeeper Lydia Williams also leaves for Melbourne City, after joining the Seagulls midway through last season from PSG. Brighton then welcome Manchester United keeper Sophie Baggaley who looks for regular game time, as well as a loan spell for Chelsea keeper Nicky Everard.
Rebekkah Scott marks another defender who left the club this summer, with Phillips bringing in Maria Thorisdottir, former Manchester United player. A versatile and experienced backline is what the Seagulls need- after the departure of Le Tissier, it never felt last season that she was adequately replaced. Scoring goals was less of an issue for this team, rather conceding them.
Despite their rocky season, Brighton have had no problem attracting some of the most high-calibre players in the game. They obviously have an attractive long-term project on how they will improve and move up the table. Their first signing of the summer was Wolfsburg striker Pauline Bremer. The two-time Champions League winner will bring a wealth of experience and a winning mentality to the club, and certainly set the tone for the transfers to come. Not long after, Vicky Losada joined the club from Roma, the Spanish international also having won the Champions League with Barcelona.
Centre-back Jorelyn Carabali also signs for the Seagulls after an impressive World Cup for Columbia, as well as Portuguese international Tatiana Pinto, to name a few. Brighton have clearly brought in players that will bring optimism, fresh energy and raised expectation, and they’ll be hoping that preseason was enough for them to fuse together as a team.
Brighton take on Everton away for their first game of the season. After beating them 3-2 but then losing 2-1 last season, it’s a game where they’ll be looking to take all three points against the mid-table team, to put them in good stead and gain momentum for the games ahead.
Bristol City
Newly promoted Bristol City are a team full of ambition as they head back into the top flight. They clinched promotion from the Women’s Championship with a game in hand after an impressive run last season. The Robins do have experience in the WSL- they were in the competition for five years before relegation in 2021.
Playing in England’s top league has certainly appealed to many players as Bristol have had a busy transfer window. Midfielder Amy Palmer leaves the club to join Leicester City, as well as midfielder Chloe Bull and Lia Cataldo leaving for Crystal Palace, to name a few. It’s clear that manager Lauren Smith wants to add players to her side that already have experience of the top flight, who can help ease such a big transition. This was clear from signing midfielder Megan Connoly from Brighton. The Republic of Ireland international already has over 4 years of WSL experience and was named club captain for the upcoming season. Bristol also signed young forward Carrie Jones from Manchester United, who was on loan at Leicester City last season. That experience of playing for a club that was so close to relegation but managed to turn results around and stay up, will be paramount for this club.
Arsenal goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese also signs a loan deal with the Robins in search of gametime. Having a keeper from such an established club in women’s football will no doubt improve the confidence of those on the pitch. Jamie-Lee Napier also pens a contract with the club, moving from Championship side London. The versatile winger or full-back made 43 appearances for her club, scoring 7 goals in her time.
Bristol lost an important youth player in this transfer window as 18 year old Brook Aspin signed a contract with WSL champions Chelsea. The defender has impressive international experience, representing England throughout the age groups and captaining the under-19 side. However, she has signed a season-long loan deal back with the Robins to continue her development ahead of an exciting career as a blue.
Perhaps one of the most important deals this summer was extending Rachel Furness’ contract which will see her stay a Robin this season. The midfielder joined Bristol in January after a successful spell at Liverpool where she gained promotion from the Championship and half a season’s worth of experience in the Super League. Furness is just one player that will be absolutely crucial for the Robins to overcome expectation this season. Another is Scottish forward Abi Harrison. She scored 9 goals for her club last season and 21 the season before, collecting multiple golden boots and player of the seasons. Her mentality is just as important, claiming that Bristol are not simply joining the WSL to make up numbers, but will try and stay there and will not go down without a fight.
Smith has not underestimated the immense level of the top flight, and the step-up in quality from the Championship. She explained that “people think we’re the team to beat”, and “we’re going to do our best to prove them wrong”. Bristol will definitely be underdogs in the majority of their games this season, but relieving that pressure to win off the team may not be a bad thing. We saw last season how newly-promoted Liverpool played their best against the top teams where they were not expected to win, so we might see a repeat of this.
Bristol first take on Leicester City at Ashton Gate, where they will now play all of their home games. It’s a must-win for the Robins who will see this as a chance to start their campaign with all three points.
Chelsea
Chelsea were once again crowned WSL Champions last May, as they finished the season on 58 points, only being beaten by Liverpool and Manchester City. The blues, now having won the league six times and four times consecutively, are certainly favourites to clinch the title again, and are no doubt the team to beat. Chelsea also won the FA Cup after beating Manchester United in the final, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before losing out to Barcelona. The Blue’s are yet to win the prestigious European competition, and this will be well in their sights this season. Overall, Emma Hayes’ side had a season of success, but well within their expectations and goals for one of the best clubs in Europe.
A lot of Chelsea’s success over the last few years can certainly be put down to the driving force of manager Emma Hayes. One of the best in the game, she has changed the mentality of this team and gets the best out of every single player. Her attention to the ‘small percentages’ have been game-changing for this side. For example, Hayes educates all players and members of staff on the female body and the differences to the men’s game, such as the menstrual cycle and the detail of players’ nutrition. These tiny percentages have certainly paid off.
It was an emotional spring for this Chelsea side as they said goodbye to two of the Blue’s most respected players. Captain Magdalena Eriksson and attacking midfielder Pernille Harder announced their departure for Bayern Munich- two big name exits that the club has had to navigate. Millie Bright now takes the armband, and deservedly so. She proved her leadership for club last season when Eriksson was injured, and for country as she led England to their first World Cup final this summer. Similarly, Lauren James also proved her goal-scoring abilities last season especially during Harder’s injury, so we could see her really stepping up this season in Harder’s absence.
Chelsea welcomed in European stars this transfer window. They started their business early on in March, announcing Belgian goalkeeper Nicky Evrard, who joins Brighton on a season-long loan. Aston Villa’s Hannah Hampton also becomes a blue, competing for the starting spot amongst Musovic and Berger. One of the biggest signings was Lyon forward Catarina Macario, the USA international missing out on the World Cup due to recovering from an ACL injury. PSG’s Ashley Lawrence also becomes a blue, the attacking full-back joining international teammates Fleming and Buchanan. It certainly seems that Chelsea have been prepared for new goal sources after Harder’s departure.
Chelsea have also proactively sought out and attracted some of the best youth talent in the game, preparing for the seasons ahead. They signed attacking full-back Alejandra Bernabe from Atletico Madrid with the 21-year-old spending this season on loan at Real Sociedad. Bristol City’s centre-back Brooke Aspin also signed her first professional contract with the Blues, but stays at her old club for a season-long as the Robins are back in the WSL. 22 year-old forward Mia Fishel is another young USWNT star who joins Chelsea from Tigres in Mexico.
Regardless of transfers, Chelsea still have arguably the most talented squad in the WSL. We have to mention forward Sam Kerr, who is back stronger than ever after a home World Cup. Midfielder Guro Reiten is also one of the blue’s best players and one of the most underrated in the league. Defender Jess Carter had an incredible summer with England- her maturity and composure on the ball really shone last season too, and Niamh Charles also gained invaluable experience with club and country. Overall it’s safe to say that Chelsea will be going for all silverware this season, with a squad and manager that is ruthless and raring to go. They have one of the biggest games to kick off with- London Rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stanford Bridge.
Everton
Everton had the highs and lows of last season, which left them in sixth place. For the last few years, they’ve tended to sit around this midway mark in the table and the quality of teams in the WSL means it’s proving to be very difficult to reach higher. Whilst their highs included a win over rivals Liverpool, their lowest point was a 7-0 defeat by Chelsea. It was the second half of the season where momentum just seemed to drop for the Toffees.
At the end of the season Everton bid farewell to WSL legend Izzy Christiansen as the midfielder announced her retirement. Danish defender Rikke Sevecke also departed for NWSL side Portland Thorns, and England youngster Jess Park returned to her parent club Manchester City following a season long loan at the Merseyside club.
It was a chaotic transfer window deadline day for the WSL with many clubs making last-ditch signings, and Everton being on the receiving end of this. The Toffees lost one of their most fundamental players, defender Gabby George, as she departed for Manchester United after 180 appearances as a Blue. Their 2022 Player Of The Season had been at the club for nine years and made history in 2017 by being Everton’s first full-time women’s player. The loss of her strength and versatility across the backline will prove a challenge for Everton this season and requires other players to step up, given there was no time to look for a replacement.
With the youngest starting XI on average in the league, it’s clear that Brian Sørensen values ardent youth talent on the pitch. This was shown in their transfers this summer too. The Toffees signed Republic of Ireland international Heather Payne after the 23 year old had a successful four year spell in the US. Ireland’s Young Women Player of the Year will bring the versatility, being able to play anywhere down the right hand side. 21 year old midfielder Emma Bissell also joins the side, the Man City academy graduate also with 2 years’ experience in the US. Everton also got their hands on one of Denmark’s upcoming stars, 18 year old Karoline Olesen, a creative midfielder with an eye for goal. However, the Blues also value the more experienced members of the squad to bring composure to England’s top flight. New signing 31 year old Justine Vanhaevermaet does just that, the former Reading central midfielder bringing wealth of experience.
Goalkeeper Emily Ramsay also signed a deal with the Merseyside club from Manchester United. After four different loan spells, she’s now got a permanent team and will be good competition for Courtney Brosnan. She’ll definitely be looking to make her way into the England squad too.
Everton’s biggest transfer by a mile was AC Milan forward, Martina Piemonte. The international is regarded as one of the biggest talents in Italian football, and was wanted by a number of WSL clubs. With 14 goals in 28 appearances for her former club, her consistency in front of net is exactly what Everton need to reach the next level.
Everton take on Brighton at home for their first WSL game. With the Seagulls also having a solid transfer window, it’s a game that the Toffees can’t underestimate.
Leicester
Leicester had nothing short of a remarkable 22/23 season, but one that didn’t come without its challenges. With manager Lydia Bedford sacked in November after just 32 days in charge and no points on the board, Willie Kirk was promoted to the role. By Christmas, the club still had zero points to their name and sat prominently at the bottom of the table. Their year was rounded off by a 8-0 humbling from champions Chelsea. Many people had written Leicester off before the season was even halfway through.
However, Leicester made an incredible comeback in the second half of the season. A fundamental part of this was the loan signing of Bayern Munich’s Janina Leitzig. Her debut performance saw a 3-0 win against Brighton, keeping a clean sheet and giving Leicester their first points of the season. This seemed to inspire some motivation within the club, which saw them finish with five wins to their name. Leicester’s final game of the season saw them finish on another victory, after a 1-0 win with England youth international Ava Baker on the scoresheet. This saw them jump into a tenth place finish on goal difference, their highest ever WSL position. They finished with 16 points, and were the first ever team to overcome a seven point deficit to achieve league safety.
Willie Kirk’s side walk into their third season in the WSL with major changes. The club announced the departure of 12 players including Championship title-winning team members Kirstie Levell, Charlie Devlin and Lachante Paul. Former club captain Sophie Barker also departs, and forward Natasha Flint joins Liverpool after a successful loan spell at Celtic. American defender Erin Simon also announced her retirement from football after a season with Leicester, and Nigerian international centre-back Ashleigh Plumptre moved to Saudi Premier League club Al-Ittihad. It seems clear that Leicester have decided to focus on the development of their younger players in the squad- they have an exciting pool of youth players with an exciting future ahead. This season’s success will be crucial if they want to maintain such quality.
Last season’s turnaround was a real team effort, and nobody contributed more than defender Courtney Nevin and goalkeeper Janina Leitzig, who were both brought in on loan spells during the January transfer window. The club will be delighted that the pair have now signed permanent contracts. Willie Kirk also brought in seven new faces, including Lize Kop from AC Ajax, defender Julie Thibaud and former Bristol City midfielder Aimee Palmer. German striker Lena Petermann also joins the WSL side after 25 goals in 48 apps for Montpellier, and Belgium’s most capped player Janice Cayman also becomes a fox. Former Reading forward Deanna Rose stays in the top fight by joining the blues, and Leicester also welcome Finnish international forward Jutta Rantala. It’s clear that Leicester are really looking to increase the goals this season, which in turn should boost the team confidence and morale, which we saw glimpses of last campaign.
The Foxes kick off the 23/24 campaign with an away fixture to Bristol City. With the two clubs battling to stay out of that relegation spot, it should be a exciting fixture.
Liverpool
Liverpool had a really promising first season back in the WSL after playing in the Championship for two years. They finished a comfortable seventh, steering clear of the relegation zone for the majority of the season. With many players having never played in the top flight of women’s football before, last season was about staying in the league and finding their feet. This campaign will be different- the Merseyside club want to re-establish themselves as a top English team and finish as high up in the table as possible.
We’ve seem glimpses of Liverpool’s ability last season. They were capable of beating the top teams, such as Chelsea and Manchester City. In fact, they tended to struggle more in games against lower opposition, like Leicester City. The team spoke about the benefit of coming into most games as the underdog and taking away any pressure on their side. The games that they were expected to win were often the ones that they underperformed in.
This summer saw the departure of nine Liverpool players. These included goalkeeper Rylee Foster, defenders Rhiannon Roberts and Megan Campbell, and striker Ashley Hodson. Natasha Dowie completed her loan spell from Reading which saw a return to the reds. This September, she announced her retirement from football and becomes the first ever ambassador of Liverpool FC. This month, the club also announced that striker Katie Stengel was leaving the club to join Gotham FC in the NSWL, where she had a loan spell over the summer. This could prove a huge blow for the reds, as Stengel was relied upon heavily last season to provide the goals when most of Liverpool’s front line were out through injury.
Manager Matt Beard had openly spoken about lowering the average age of the squad and bringing in fresh youth talent. Liverpool experienced a lot of injuries last season especially to attacking players, which saw them limited in formation, often to a back five. This meant they played quite safe and defensively. The hopes of this transfer window was to bring back a style of play that was brave and optimistic.
The players that Beard has brought in certainly show this ambition. Youth striker Mia Enderby signed from Championship club Sheffield United, along with forward Natasha Flint after a successful loan spell from Leicester at Celtic. Midfielder Marie Hobinger also joined from FC Zurich Frauen. Liverpool’s defence has also strengthened with Glasgow City’s Jenna Clark and Grace Fisk from West Ham. The club also welcomed new Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah to go alongside Rachel Laws. Their biggest signing, however, was saved until last when the club announced forward Sophie Roman Haug from Roma. The Norwegian is potentially best known from her World Cup hattrick- her consistent goal record and physical strength sees her the perfect replacement for Stengel.
Transfer window aside, Liverpool already have an extremely talented squad- the struggle has been keeping these players fully fit. One of their stand-out players from last season was January signing Fuka Nagano, the Japanese international bringing the skill and tempo to Liverpool’s game which saw them go up a level. Midfielder Missy Bo Kearns is another fan favourite, the Scouser having shown such maturity for her first WSL season. The England international has also gone on to captain the Lionesses under 23’s. Ceri Holland is another midfielder who’s absolutely fundamental for Liverpool’s success, the Welsh international having just signed a new contract despite interest from multiple top European clubs. To turn down the likes of AC Milan really says a lot about the growth and direction of this Merseyside team. From the outside, there seems to be a great culture and camaraderie built up, credit to the staff and players.
After a tough few years, Liverpool certainly seem to be on the up, attracting and retaining some of the best players in the game. A huge factor in this is the club’s new elite training facility Melwood, which was brought back and renovated for the women to use after being home to the men’s team for over seventy years. As well as improving recovery, training and injury prevention, the investment shows the club’s dedication to the women’s side.
Liverpool had a positive and purposeful preseason. Their game against Birmingham gave experience to multiple youth players, while playing Manchester United and City gave them experience against tough teams in the league. The French Cup saw two optimistic games against Atletico Madrid and PSG, where the reds narrowly missed out on penalties, and they ended preseason with a win against Leicester. However, during this time they’ve already accumulated injuries- Mia Enderby and Niamh Fahey both in the United game, whilst Zara Shaw and Faye Kirby (on loan at Aberdeen) are both out with ruptured ACLs. Two of Liverpool’s main forwards Leanne Kiernan and Shanice Van De Sanden still remain sidelined with setbacks from injuries last season, Kiernan’s being on the opening game of the season. The good news is that winger Melissa Lawley seems ahead of schedule potentially coming back in October, after hip surgery.
Liverpool have a tough first game back as they take on Arsenal at the Emirates. However, they’ve already proved that they’re more than capable of being up there competing against the top teams. It’s an exciting start to a season of growth.
Manchester City
Manchester City would have prepared for a tough season ahead last campaign, but a fourth place finish was still well below their expectation. Their defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal in the spring all but confirmed their position which meant no Champions League qualification spot. For a club which such highly talented individuals, qualifying should really be their minimum. With the club placing their lowest finish in the top flight for almost a decade, they certainly will be looking for a fresh start and success this season.
A fresh start seems ironic to say as Manchester City had an extremely quiet transfer window. Their one and only signing was a statement as the Blues brought in former Wolfsburg midfielder Jill Roord. The Dutch star, also having spent time at Arsenal, has WSL and Champions League pedigree which is what the club need. She also shone for the Netherlands at last summer’s World Cup.
After such a high turnover last season with City losing 8 key players including Ellen White, Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway, manager Gareth Taylor explained how the team would benefit from a settled side with little arrivals or departures. They already have so much talent within the squad. In fact, the only departure this summer was winger Hayley Raso, who left for Real Madrid after receiving limited game time. It’s clear that Taylor tends to stick to Hemp and Kelly as the starting wingers, with Bunny Shaw leading the front-line. Thankfully for City, Shaw has signed a new contract keeping her at the club for two more years. A prolific forward, she is Jamaican’s all time top goal-scorer for both genders, and has scored 29 goals in 39 appearances as a Blue so far.
Manchester City also welcome back exciting young talents Ruby Mace and Jess Park as they return from their loan deals at WSL sides Leicester and Everton. The Blues have a pool of youth stars including 19 year old goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Keating had to step in in April in City’s 6-2 victory against West Ham, when she was recalled from her Coventry loan due to Sandy Maciver’s injury. Just 18 at the time, she had a fantastic performance in her first top flight start of 22/23.
Manchester City have only won the WSL once, in 2016. While they strive to get back to their winning ways, last season was a world away from threatening their dominance. Ahead of this season, Gareth Taylor explained how their intention is “to win the league, as clear as that”. And with the abundance of talent in that squad, reaching that top spot should be within their reach. Last season was difficult to find their feet after such a turbulent transfer window- this campaign, there is no excuse why Manchester City cannot go all the way.
Manchester United
Manchester United had a season to be proud of in their latest campaign. They took the title race to the very last day but Chelsea were just the more consistent team over the course of the season. United also reached their first ever FA Cup final but missed out on the silverware due to Chelsea, again. However, their trophyless season cannot be mistaken for an unsuccessful one- for a club that is just going into their sixth season together, United are already a top team in the WSL. They’ve made huge progress and this season have also earned themselves a spot to qualify for the prestigious Champions League.
However, Manchester United have lost a lot of players in this transfer window. Their biggest departure was definitely striker Alessia Russo, who moved to Arsenal on a free transfer after the London club put down a record-breaking bid in January. Russo was United’s most prominent and consistent goal-scorer, leaving big shoes to fill. Another huge name leaving the club was full-back Ona Batlle, who moves back to Champions League winners Barcelona. The 24-year old Spanish international is such highly valued that she is often regarded as the best right-back in the world, and will now play for arguably the best women’s team in the world. She too leaves on a free, and leaves many racking their brains on how United could replace such a talent.
Goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley and Norwegian defender Maria Thorisdottir both leave the Red Devils to be part of Brighton’s exciting transfer window. Winger Adriana Leon also departs the club to join teammate Kirsty Hanson at Aston Villa, with Hanson signing a permanent contract after a loan spell last season. Leon spoke about the importance of being at a club where she felt valued by the manager, suggesting that Aston Villa was a club more suited towards her. Also on the departure list were Norwegian midfielder Vilda Boe Risa who joins Atletico Madrid, as well as striker Martha Thomas looking for regular game time at Spurs.
Many players on their way out opened up an exciting list of arrivals for the Manchester club. Perhaps the biggest of all was World Cup golden boot star Hinata Miyazawa, the Japanese midfielder scoring five goals for her country in four games this summer. New arrival Irene Guerrero also had a successful summer being part of the Spanish national team that took the trophy home. The central midfielder joins United from Atletico Madrid. Manchester United desperately in need of a goal-scorer after Russo’s departure also signed forward Geyse Da Silva Ferreira from Barcelona, the Brazilian scoring 6 goals last season and hoping for more this campaign, given the minutes. With many departures confirmed on a frantic last day of the transfer window, Gabby George was also announced to join the club from Everton, the experienced defender was delighted to be back playing for her childhood club.
Perhaps the biggest talking point around United for the last few months has been around the movement of goalkeeper Mary Earps. After a record-breaking bid from rival club Arsenal, many expected the transfer to happen this summer. However, the club have confirmed that Earps remains at the club, and have turned down any bids. It’s easy to understand- the England first choice goalkeeper being named Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper 2022 and most recently England’s player of the year. For United, she is simply irreplaceable, one of the club’s most loved and marketable players, and a solid reason for their recent success. However, keeping a player that perhaps doesn’t want to be there for much longer can be extremely damaging for team morale.
United’s rocky transfer window and summer of huge change means that the club relies even more heavily on the players already there, to step up. Captain Katie Zelem has a massive role to play again this season, especially after such a huge summer after being selected for the World Cup. The same could be said for midfielder Ella Toone, who had a rather inconsistent and frustrating last season, but will now be looking ahead to silverware. On the contrary, forward Nikita Parris will have a point to prove this season after missing out on being in England’s World Cup squad. After such a quick turnaround from international football, we might see her start over other players especially in the first few games- equally so for defender Maya Le Tissier, who had a fantastic last season but only made it as a training player in the summer.
Manchester United open the WSL with an away fixture to Aston Villa. Although they won both of these fixtures last season, Villa have proved that they are no easy feat for any team. It will be an exciting game for both ends, and a chance to see some of United’s new stars in action.
Tottenham Hotspur
It’s safe to say that Tottenham Hotspur had a very disappointing last season. While many predicted them to be challenging top teams in the league, they actually ended up finishing in ninth place on 18 points, only securing WSL survival on matchday 21. Spurs have had good moments, such as their huge win against Brighton in November, but these positives were few and far between in this disaster of a season. Who would have guessed that they’d be fighting relegation against the same team they earlier thrashed 8-0.
Spurs’ saving grace last season was certainly the January transfer of striker Bethany England. After 7 years at Chelsea, she made the move in search of regular game time ahead of World Cup selection, and became the highest transfer fee for a player moving between two WSL clubs. England certainly saved Spurs from relegation, scoring 12 goals in 12 appearances to clinch some points. Solo goals such as her incredible shot against Leicester City kept Spurs going and kept their hopes of staying in the league alive. England was Spurs’ most consistent and reliable player by a mile and was certainly valued by the club, being named their players’ and supporters’ player of the season. She was also deservedly given the number nine shirt from the departed Nikola Karczewska. After being at such a successful club for so long, she brought her winning mentality and ruthlessness, which pulled Spurs through. It certainly paid off for the Lioness, as she was included in England’s World Cup squad this summer.
However, Beth England announced earlier this month that she would be out for the foreseeable, due to getting hip surgery. This means that Spurs will start their season without their best player and goal provider. Now, other players will have to step up in front of goal, such as Ellie Brazil and new signing Martha Thomas. Thomas joined the Lilywhites from Manchester United on a two year contract, used mostly as a late sub for her former club but can now expect plenty of game time. Even when England is fully fit, having other strikers will allow her to be rotated and ease the pressure in front of goal.
After a run of nine league defeats which saw Spurs sit third-bottom of the league and only six goals in this time, manager Rehanne Skinner was sacked in March. Assistant coach Vicky Jepson took over for the remainder of the season. This season however saw the permanent replacement as Robert Vilahamn was appointed Spurs’ new head coach. He made immanent changes, including naming Bethany England as the team’s new captain, and deservedly so. Molly Bartrip and new signing Olga Ahtinen were named new vice-captains.
This summer saw more change as six players departed the London club. These included Kyah Simon, Chioma Ubogagu, Cho So-hyun and Esther Morgan. Kerys Harrop was also released, the WSL record appearance holder having played in the top flight 183 times, before announcing her retirement in August. Japanese international Mana Iwabuchi also announced her retirement from football after a January loan to Spurs from Arsenal. At both clubs, she didn’t get much chance to prove herself and was not selected for the World Cup this summer.
This summer, Spurs have also brought in 22 year old forward Zhang Linyan on loan from the Chinese League. The Chinese international will link up with the club in October after the Asian Games, and also played every game for China in the World Cup. Goalkeeper Barbora Votikova also joins from the Czech Republic, as well as Swiss defender Luana Buhler from Hoffenheim.
With Spurs’ squad on paper, they should be succeeding a lot more than they have shown. They have a huge game coming up, taking on Chelsea at The Bridge, and certainly walk in as underdogs. However, they’ve got a lot to prove and there’s no better time to do so than against their London rivals.
West Ham
West Ham finished in 8th place last season on 21 points, having won just six games. They started stronger but seemed to lose energy and momentum after the winter break, and never gain it back. It was a flat campaign, with moments of frustration and high tensions. After just one league win in 2023, manager Paul Koncheskey departed the club at the end of the season, meaning West Ham have had four different managers in the last three years. Former Liverpool manager and Tottenham assistant manager Rehanne Skinner takes up the role becoming the club’s first female manager, looking to form a cohesive and consistent squad.
Perhaps the biggest news in West Ham’s transfer window was the departure of lifelong Hammer Kate Longhurst. After five years at the club, she moved to Championship side Charlton where she will bring a breadth of experience.
It’s another huge blow for the Hammers as defenders Grace Fisk and Lucy Parker both move on to Liverpool and Aston Villa. Despite both being offered new contracts, they declined in pursuit for a new challenge. Losing half of their starting backline will be a test for other players to step up, such as new signing Jessie Stapleton. West Ham will also be without their captain Dagny Brynjarsdottir, as she announced her second pregnancy this summer.
It seems like West Ham are confident enough in their defence as they prioritised their front line this transfer window. The Hammers signed forward Riko Ueki, the Japanese international having shone at the World Cup, and forward Emma Harries also joins from Reading. Despite being just 21 years old, Harries is a tenacious goalscorer with so much potential and development to happen at West Ham.
Republic of Ireland keeper Megan Walsh also becomes a Hammer after her contract with Brighton expired. With Mackenzie Arnold having an inconsistent season but a fantastic World Cup campaign, Walsh will bring healthy competition to the goalkeeper union, pushing everyone to be their best.
West Ham have had a positive preseason adapting to their squad and the players’ new roles in the team. They comfortably beat newly-promoted Bristol 3-0, with all goals coming from forward Viviane Asseyi, who will have a huge role to play this season. West Ham take on Manchester City at home for their opening game- a tough start, but they’ll be looking to prove a point by claiming the win.
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