After a solid mid table place finish in 2022/23, a summer transfer window riddled by the losses of key players and a looming shadow of the rule breaches of the men’s side, Everton would not have been ticked as a favourite to thrive this season. But strong Danish chemistry and admirable grit would see the side valiantly battling to the end.  

Summer Window 

Brian Sørensen shopped smartly to cement gaps in his squad in the Summer window. With Aggie Beever-Jones and Jess Park returning to their parent clubs, it was time to think forward. Enter Martina Piemonte and Emma Bissel, two signings that Everton would deploy to solve their goal scoring woes from the previous season at just 29 goals in 22 games. Defensively, outgoings of stalwart Gabby George and Rikke Sevecke meant experience was lacking at the back. The versatility and calmness lost was hoped to be smoothed over by the signing of Justine Vanhaevermaet from Reading. Excelling in the midfield and defence, this is a player who has been key in Everton’s success, able to slot into a back 5 and also play more forward when the Toffees take a less defensive set up. 

Early Struggles

The start of the 23/24 losses was not the smoothest of starts that Sørensen would have been hoping for. Just 1 win in their first 9 games left Everton floundering at the bottom of the table. Two heavy 5-0 and 7-0 defeats to United were a shock of ice cold water to the Toffees. A draw to Bristol City and losses to relegation battling teams Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City both set Everton in a tricky place heading into the second half of the season.

Emily Ramsey, who had been vital in Everton’s success in the previous season, signed permanently for the club after her loan spell from Manchester United. Her incredible distribution and 85.5% save percentage left the youngster firing and ready to tackle the new season. However, she sustained an ankle injury in December’s Merseyside derby, which delivered a harsh blow to the Toffees. Returning only momentarily did Ramsey, before she then suffered an injury to her other ankle, and was consequently ruled out for the rest of the 2023/24 season. The club then turned to experienced goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan to take the reins. The Irish international stepped up and proved vital in wins over Liverpool and West Ham United where she kept clean sheets on both occasions.

However, a lot of problems continued to nibble away at the side, much of this lying in the lack of depth and the lineup which consistently stuck to a 3 at the back. This is a formation which wasn’t working efficiently for the side. January would have to bring change and fast. 

Winter Window

Chemistry is something that flows beautifully in this Everton side due to the heavy Danish contingent that underly the foundations. Katrine Veje, the Holmgaard twins, Nicoline Sorensen and Karoline Oleson, all bounce off one another nicely. In the January transfer window, Sørensen again shopped smartly, opting for connection over big spending. Bringing in both Kathrine Kühl on loan from Arsenal and Rikke Madsen from North Carolina Courage, meant that Sørenson’s players understood each other more on the pitch due to the already present foundation of their national team alliances. Kühl brought skills and speed, whilst Madsen brought versatility and strength. These signings kickstarted a much improved second half of the season for the Toffees, despite the loss of reliable and dependent centre back Nathalie Björn to Chelsea. 

Improvement through adversity

The Toffees began to grab a footing in the Barclays WSL with wins over Brighton and West Ham, pushing them away from the gritty pack of relegation battlers. On the occasions that Everton did fall to defeat, it was a far cry from their previous hefty losses. A 1-0 loss to Chelsea and 2-1 loss to Arsenal showed how the once defeated attitude had been turned around. The Toffees were here to compete for points no matter the opponent. Undefeated against their Merseyside rivals, Everton recorded a 1-0 win and a 0-0 draw against their foes, showing their determination to cement Merseyside as blue. 

Valiant fight to the end

Everton’s best run came at the season’s end. In 6 games they only lost 1, recording 2 wins in this strong show of their development. Most notably so is the Toffees last gasp draw against Arsenal where they were denied of potentially winning by a Vanhaevermaet header painfully hitting the woodwork. Their newly acquired 5-4-1 shape meant that they kept Arsenal blocked out for the majority of the game. Blackstenius and Foord were often left frustrated with how they were restricted from the ball, and the persistence in defence that the Toffees showed paid off. A last minute header from Toffee through and through Isabella Hobson, saw them snatch a point from one of the best outfits in the league. The season ended on a high note with the Toffees putting 4 past Bristol at Ashton Gate, showing they are a team far from relegation despite the odds being against them. An 8th place finish for the Toffees despite their disadvantages is a feat to be proud of. 

What needs to change?

Everton’s goal scoring drought is something that needs seriously addressing if Sørensen’s side are to compete higher up the table. Signing Piemonte and reliable forward Katja Snoeijis recorded just 3 goals each this season, showing extreme underperformance on both fronts. To improve on this, the Toffees must search to recruit a striker who is able to not just score goals, but also adapt to the playing style of the league. In the latter aspect, Piemonte has struggled, and hence a signing with previous experience in the Barclays WSL may be what Everton are missing. Looking to the future, Everton is a relatively young squad with lots of great prospects in their ranks. As these players gain experience within the club, Everton can really start to compete again. 

A tricky season riddled with key losses from injury and transfers left Everton with a weight on their back. However, Brian Sørenson has kept faith in his side, changing things when they needed to be adapted and shopping smartly. The Dane has been awarded a new contract at the club running through until 2026 so his long-term plan for the club can start to unfold. The future is bright for Everton.