Looking at every Women's Super League team's transfers

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We’re primarily a men’s football newsletter, but with the Women’s Super League kicking off this weekend, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at all the transfers that happened over the summer in that league.

The big headline move was Vivianne Miedema moving from Arsenal to Manchester City, and she’ll be facing off against her old team on Sunday. The first game of the season is Chelsea vs. Aston Villa on Friday.

If you’re used to watching non-TV games on The FA Player, that’s changing this year. The teams formed their own company and took over management of the league from the FA, so untelevised games are now on WSL’s YouTube Channel.

We’re not doing grades like we did for the men’s transfers, mostly because the finances of women’s football are changing so rapidly. Publications also don’t dedicate the same kind of reporting resources to it, so the reporting of fees is often wildly unreliable or non-existent.

So it’ll be a bit simpler here, and I’ll just be talking about whether or not I think the team got better at football, rather than any long-term financial concerns. It’s also not particularly financially crippling if a team makes a bad move; the worst transfer in the history of women’s football might cost 1% of what Chelsea are going to waste on Raheem Sterling. —KM

Before we get going, some business. This newsletter is once again sponsored by 1440, a news roundup that I like a lot. I checked it out for the first time when they sponsored us, and now I actually read it just because I think it’s good. Consider clicking and checking them out. Thanks!

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Arsenal — Should have done more

Incomings

• Mariona Caldentey

• Daphne van Domselaar

• Rosa Kafaji

Outgoings

• Vivianne Miedema

• Sabrina D’Angelo

• Kaylan Marckese

• Giovana Queiroz

• Cloé Lacasse

• 2 players loaned

Arsenal fans won’t be thrilled that the biggest piece of news here is an outgoing move. Vivianne Miedema, comfortably the club’s best player in the WSL era, has departed.

I don’t know if Arsenal’s lack of activity this summer is down to low ambition or blind faith in internal improvement. Either way, I disagree with the lack of movement. This team was very clearly third best last season, and then lost its best player on a free transfer. The case for running it back is… what, exactly? Their goal differential was 20 behind champions Chelsea.

Caldentey is about as good of a Miedema replacement as Arsenal fans could have hoped for, and fits in well with the squad. She’ll provide goals and assists cutting in from the left wing and make space for Katie McCabe's overlapping runs. Rosa Kafaji should prove to be a great attacking midfielder eventually, but I think the 21-year-old will need a settling in period. Daphne van Domselaar is a serviceable backup goalkeeper, as the club cycles through those instead of bringing in someone to genuinely challenge the perpetually underperforming Manuela Zinsberger.

This team is fine. It’s good enough to hold off challengers for 3rd place. On the evidence of last season’s performances and Wednesday’s loss to BK Häcken in Champions League qualifying, Arsenal will struggle to do more than that.

Aston Villa — Too many question marks

Incomings

• Paula Tomás

• Katie Robinson

• Miri Taylor

• Sabrina D’Angelo

• Missy Bo Kearns

• Chasity Grant

• Gabi Nunes

• Jill Baijings (loan)

Outgoings

• Olivia McLoughlin

• Simone Magill

• Alisha Lehmann

• Daphne van Domselaar

• Freya Gregory (loan)

This looks like a lot of movement, but it’s mostly about solidifying the team’s depth. Besides Lehmann — who departed for Juventus alongside her partner Douglas Luiz — all of the top minutes-getters and most impactful players return.

New Villa manager Robert de Pauw switched between 3-4-3 and 4-4-2 formations last year at Bayer Leverkusen, so I don’t have a clue how his Villa is going to look most weeks. New signings Tomás and Grant could theoretically fit as wingbacks. Playing at the center of a back 3 would probably extend Rachel Corsie’s career at this level, and maximize Dan Carter’s ability to carry the ball forward from left center back.

Ultimately, I think this team has a problem of too many good players who do the same stuff and struggle to play together. Jordan Nobbs and Kenza Dali are both physically limited playmaking midfielders in their 30s who need someone to cover for them. Ebony Salmon and Rachel Daly could make a great strike partnership, but playing them at the same time might necessitate benching both of Nobbs and Dali.

There’s enough raw talent in total here to compete for 4th, but the squad construction is incoherent.

Brighton — Wow that’s dramatic

Incomings

• Marisa Olislagers

• Fran Kirby

• Kiko Seike

• Marit Auée

• Rachel McLaughlan

• Hannah Poulter

• Bex Rayner

• Aisha Masaka

• Jelena Čanković

• Nikita Parris

• Bruna Vilamala (loan)

• Michelle Agyemang (loan)

Outgoings

• Lulu Jarvis

• Emma Kullberg

• Tatiana Pinto

• Katie Robinson

• Veatriki Sarri

• Elisabeth Termand

• Julia Zigiotti Olme

• Katie Startup

• Lee Guem-min

• 6 players loaned

Brighton really deserve their own piece; I’m not sure how to cover them in a roundup post that’s giving every team equal time. This might be the most dramatic one transfer window makeover in the last decade of women’s football. They’re likely to have 6 or 7 different first choice starters.

New manager Dario Vidošić built an extremely entertaining attacking team at Melbourne City, and I can’t imagine that his employers have signed Fran Kirby, Jelena Čanković, Nikita Parris and Kiko Seike for him to park 10 behind the ball against big sides.

Kirby has dealt with injury and illness issues in recent years, but when she’s fit she still does: This.

Čanković should be a perfect fit as the 10 in Vidošić’s 4-2-3-1. Seike obliterated the Japanese league last year. Parris is coming off a good season. Vilamala’s per 90 minutes at Barca were nuts. This team rocks. I am going to be so sad if they’re not good.

The one big red flag is that their defensive signings all do not have major European league experience. However skeptical you are of Dutch league data when it comes to men’s players moving to England, quadruple that for women’s players. That doesn’t mean they’re not good, just that I have no idea.

Chelsea — Still awesome

Incomings

• Júlia Bartel

• Sandy Baltimore

• Oriane Jean-François

• Lucy Bronze

• Maelys Mpomé

• Louna Ribadeira (loaned out)

• Veerle Buurman (loaned out)

Outgoings

• Fran Kirby

• Maren Mjelde

• Alsu Abdullina

• Nicky Evrard

• Melanie Leupolz

• Jess Carter

• Kateřina Svitková

• Jelena Čanković

• 11 players loaned

Despite losing the most impactful manager in the history of women’s football, it looks like things aren’t changing much at Chelsea. Sonia Bompastor and the directors are taking an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach.

Baltimore and Bronze are easy plug-and-play additions. Mpomé and Bartel are young talents that should get time to settle in slowly this season. Jean-François is coming off an ACL injury, but was outstanding the previous year for PSG.

This was the best team in the league despite losing 3 top forwards to ACL injuries. If not just Sam Kerr, but also Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel, can play the majority of the season, I’m not sure who’s preventing this team from scoring a truly outrageous number of goals.

The post-Hayes era might be a bit scary for Chelsea fans, but they got the best replacement manager they could have hoped for, and they didn’t screw up the team. There’s no reason to be anything but ecstatic right now.

Crystal Palace — It’s gonna be a grind

Incomings

• Katrine Veje

• Shae Yañez

• Indiah-Paige Riley

• Ashleigh Weerden

• Mille Gejl

• Josie Green

• Milla-Maj Majasaari

• My Cato

• Katie Stengel

• Jorja Fox (loan)

• Lexi Potter (loan)

• Brooke Aspin (loan)

• Poppy Pritchard (loan)

• Lily Woodham (loan)

Outgoings

• Polly Doran

• Anna Filbey

• Shauna Guyatt

• Annabel Johnson

• Natalia Negri

• Ellie Noble

• Fran Kitching

• Kirsten Reilly

• Isabella Sibley (loan)

I can’t sugar coat this: Palace are heavy favorites to go straight back down. We’ll get to Leicester and West Ham, but I think both got a liiiiiiittle better. The gap from West Ham to last year’s relegated team, Bristol City, was 9 points. Palace will do well to simply improve on that.

Championship golden boot winner Elise Hughes tore her ACL at the end of last season and won’t be available to start the year. The strikers Palace have signed are serviceable, but probably not as good as her. I have similar things to say about their signings at other positions. It’s going to be a long season.

Everton — Just here

Incomings

• Toni Payne

• Honoka Hayashi

• Melissa Lawley

• Veatriki Sarri

• Inma Gabarro

• Inês Pereira (loaned out)

Outgoings

• Toni Duggan

• Eleanor Dale

• Annie Wilding

• Hanna Bennison

• Katrine Veje

• Martina Piedmonte

• 4 players loaned

I can’t help but infer that the financial problems on the men’s side have led to a lack of investment in the women’s team. Thankfully for Everton, the existing talent is good enough to keep them in the league comfortably. But they shouldn’t be challenging for top half.

The combination of Toni Payne and Inma Gabarro at least arrives with existing chemistry, but I’d say they were decent, not spectacular, at Sevilla. The players coming from other WSL sides are ones that can do a job, but haven’t been stars. I’m sorry for the lack of optimism, this team is what it is.

Also, someone please explain to me why they gave up on Eleanor Dale. I would not have done that.

Leicester — Improved defense, but can they score?

Incomings

• Asmita Ale

• Chantelle Swaby

• Sari Kees

• Ruby Mace

• Noémie Mouchon

• Shana Chossenotte

Outgoings

• Josie Green

• Demi Lambourne

• Aimee Palmer

• Monique Robinson

• Remy Siemsen

• Aileen Whelan

• Ava Baker

Leicester conceded 45 goals last season, and I think they’re going to concede a lot fewer this time around. Ale did well on a short-term loan and should be even better now that she’s got a full preseason with the team, Mace is a good addition as a defensive midfielder, and I like Swaby and Kees too.

Mouchon and Chossenotte are very young, but had solid seasons for Reims last year. They could improve the attack a lot, or not at all. I really like Leicester’s set of wingers/AMs, but they’re a proven center forward short of being a serious challenger for top half. They’re really depending on Mouchon to hit the ground running.

Liverpool — That’s it?

Incomings

• Olivia Smith

• Cornella Kapocs

• Gemma Evans

Outgoings

• Emma Kovisto

• Melissa Lawley

• Shanice van de Sanden

• Miri Taylor

• Natasha Flint

• Missy Bo Kearns

Don’t get me wrong, I like all of Liverpool’s signings and don’t disagree with their outgoing decisions. Smith has been in outstanding form for Sporting Lisbon and Canada at just 20 years old, Kapocs is a productive shooter as an attacking midfielder, and Evans was good in limited minutes for Man United last year.

But you didn’t want to take a big swing? A year after finishing above your rivals? Man United and Arsenal have seen some big stars walk, and Liverpool have plenty of financial muscle. You couldn’t go recruit a serious star or two and try to push for Champions League? It’s disappointing.

But since I’ve been a Negative Nancy for 3 teams in a row, let’s point out some positives. Leanne Kiernan was ridiculous on a per-90 basis last year, and I think Liverpool can count on some internal improvement if they give her more minutes.

Their other center forward, Sophie Haug, was also very good and is an aerial monster. 19-year-old Mia Enderby had some promising moments in limited minutes and could be due for a big leap. It’s very possible Liverpool’s attack improves considerably without them having to spend a lot of money.

Manchester City — Viv and Bunny are in the same team hahaha good lord

Incomings

• Vivianne Miedema

• Risa Shimizu

• Aoba Fujino

• Ayaka Yamashita

• Naomi Layzell

• Katie Startup

• Eve Annets (loaned out)

Outgoings

• Filippa Angeldahl

• Steph Houghton

• Ruby Mace

• Ellie Roebuck

• Demi Stokes

• Esme Morgan

• Poppy Pritchard (loan)

Before we get to Viv: Hello and welcome to 3 members of the Japanese national team. Yui Hasegawa must have told her friends that she was having a good time in Manchester. Yamashita has been Japan’s No. 1 for a while now, Shimizu is going to enjoy attacking a lot more than she did at West Ham, and Fujino is a 20-year-old attacker who will probably see most of her time on the right wing.

OK, so Viv. One of the best strikers in the history of the league has joined the team that has last season’s golden boot winner. I suspect we’re going to see a lot of 4-2-3-1 with Miedema in the hole behind Khadija Shaw, operating as more of a playmaker and making late runs to the top of the box. I also suspect that this is going to be fucking awesome to watch.

I am… not sure what this means for the midfield roles in this team. Jill Roord and Jess Park, get ready to learn No. 8, buddy? There are too many 10s here. Everyone on this team is a 10. Even Shaw often plays as an attacking mid instead of as a center forward for Jamaica. There might be some growing pains.

The end result of those growing pains should be a ridiculous team that can beat anyone in the world, but the title race in this league often leaves no margin for error, and an early slip-up or two could hand the title to Chelsea. In any event, I love where this team is going.

Manchester United — Well those are some big departures

Incomings

• Dominique Janssen

• Elisabeth Termand

• Anna Sandberg

• Simi Awujo

• Celin Bizet

Outgoings

• Mary Earps

• Lucia Garcia

• Katie Zelem

• Irene Guerrero

• Gemma Evans

• Nikita Parris

Between United yeeting their women’s team from their locker room and manager Marc Skinner being a bit of a character who a lot of people seem to either love or hate, the vibes are weird at Carrington.

England’s starting goalkeeper from the last World Cup has moved on to PSG, and the other departures are all big name internationals too. Somewhat curiously, Earps has not been directly replaced. United is putting a lot of faith into Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who was inconsistent when she was Seattle Reign’s starter. Her highlights are super, super high though.

Janssen was truly world class at her peak, but she dropped off a bit last year, and I’m concerned Wolfsburg knew what they were doing in letting her go.

OK, that’s all the iffy stuff. There’s also plenty to like here. Terland was great for Brighton last year, especially scoring headed goals. Sandberg is coming off a ridiculous campaign for Häcken and could be a star right away. Awujo is young and will take time to settle in, but looks like a good Zelem replacement. Bizet is a Parris-like substance on the right.

I think this is the 4th best team in the league. They’ll be in competition with Liverpool and Tottenham (maybe Villa and Brighton too?) for that spot, and probably win. But they’ve taken a bunch of sideways steps here.

Tottenham Hotspur — Pretty nice

Incomings

• Ella Morris

• Claire Hunt

• Hayley Raso

• Anna Csiki

• Maite Oroz

• Katelin Talbert (loan)

Outgoings

• Asmita Ale

• Ellie Brazil

• Nikola Karczewska

• Gracie Pearse

• Ria Percival

• Ramona Petzelberger

• Shelina Zadorsky

• Barbora Votíková

• Celin Bizet

• 3 players loaned

Friends, Spurs have absolutely cooked here.

I can already hear you, “of course the Tottenham fan thinks they had a good window but criticizes Arsenal.” And sure, you can disregard my opinion for that reason if you want. I still think Spurs are quite a bit worse than Arsenal. But they’re getting closer to the top 3, and I think they’ve done enough to have a chance at 4th this season.

I’m a big fan of both of the Real Madrid signings. Oroz is a really versatile playmaking midfielder who’s played all over the pitch, but is probably best as an 8. Hayley Raso was quietly great in fairly limited minutes, and is a perfect replacement for Celin Bizet.

Poor Häcken got absolutely raided this summer, with midfielder Anna Csiki also making the move to WSL. Claire Hunt should be a pretty significant upgrade at center back.

I think Spurs got Bethany England and Martha Thomas some much better service, and they’ll both score more goals this year.

West Ham United — Acceptable!

Incomings

• Kinga Szemik

• Camila Sáez

• Manuela Pavi

• Seraina Piubel

• Oona Siren

• Li Mengwen (loan)

• Shekiera Martinez (loaned out)

• Inès Belloumou (loaned out)

Outgoings

• Mackenzie Arnold

• Hawa Cissoko

• Mel Filis

• Honoka Hayashi

• Risa Shimizu

• Emma Snerle

• Abbey-Leigh Stringer

• 6 players loaned

West Ham were bad last year and had to make dramatic changes. They probably weren’t happy to lose Shimizu, but every other change was probably a necessary one.

Szemik was a spectacular shot-stopper at Reims last season and is probably an upgrade on Arnold. Sáez os a good ball-playing, left-footed center back. Those players are proven in big European leagues, but the other signings are a bit of a gamble, and probably one worth taking for a team in West Ham’s situation.

Pavi has turned in some impressive performances for Colombia and is an entertaining winger. Piubel arrives from Zurich in Switzerland and Siren from Kvinner in Norway. They’re both fairly box-to-box midfielders, and it’ll be interesting to see how they’re used in a team together.

I don’t think this team is a lot better, but they probably improved enough to be well clear of Palace, and that’s step 1 to getting back to challenging for top half.

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