As we are now just days away from the launch of another thrilling chapter in Barclays Women’s Super League, Tottenham Hotspur have reason to be ambitious as the new campaign draws close.

Spurs- off the back of their history making season last term- saw boss Robert Vilahamn pen a new deal at the club this summer, keeping him in charge of the Lilywhites until 2027. Last season saw the unearthing of ‘Bobby Ball’, with Vilahamn committed to playing ‘The Tottenham Way’ – to which he would constantly reference in press conferences with the media.

At The Halfway Line, we look at what Tottenham Hotspur could achieve this campaign, with a comprehensive look into pre season so far, incomings, outgoings, and more!

Quality incomings over the transfer window

As the sun set on the previous season with a London Derby win over West Ham, the minds of all Spurs fans were on the same thing- could the club work out a way to retain loan-star Grace Clinton as her time in Lilywhite drew to a close?

Unfortunately, the answer to the above question was a firm no, with Clinton set to line up for her Manchester United side in 2024/2025 and the Red Devils showing no intention to sell the young starlet. Whilst this would have no doubt been a disappointment for Spurs, they have not let this deter their incoming business over the summer transfer window.

Amanda Nildén was the first permanent piece of business through the door way back on the 26th of June, as the defender turned her loan from Juventus into a permanent move to North London. The Swede had slotted in brilliantly at Tottenham, appearing sixteen times acros all competitions last season.

Young full back, Ella Morris, joined from Southampton, before defensive strenghtening continued as Clare Hunt signed on the dotted line in a move to North London from French Giants, PSG.

Hunt, a player who has been of long standing interest to Spurs, joined the club after the Matilda’s elimination from the 2024 Olympic Games, where the 25-year old appeared all three times in the group stages.

Despite only turning out 13 times in her one season at Paris Saint Germain last term, she was part of the club that won the Coup de France last season, now bringing that taste of winning to Hotspur Way.

A third Aussie wasn’t too far away from Hotspur Way as it turned out, with Hayley Raso the next to sign on the dotted line, signing a two year contract and signalling a return to England for the former Manchester City and Everton star.

Raso breeds quality and experience in abundance. 266 career club appearances, 90 international caps, a two-time A League Women Premiership Winner, a Women’s League Cup winner, and an NWSL Championship winner, Raso and her signature ribbons bring quality, experience, and colour to Hotspur way ahead of the new season.

Tottenham then crossed back into Europe for their next incoming, with Hungarian midfielder Anna Csiki joining the club from BK Häcken.

The three-time Hungary Women’s Cup winner reunites with Vilahamn, having played under the Swede, whilst also registering her best goal scoring season in her career under his tutelage.

The sixth and final incoming of Tottenham’s window occurred late on deadline day, as the side picked up Maite Oroz from Real Madrid, giving the 26 year old a four year deal and the number ten shirt at Spurs.

Oroz joins the Lilywhites as the seemingly most natural replacement for Grace Clinton you feel. An 86% pass accuracy in tthe league last season and often granted freedom to roam in the Madrid midfield saw Oroz thrive.

She cleared 100 appearances at both her former clubs, Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Madrid (118 and 136 in all competitions combined), marking tremendous longevity in a career for a player that is approaching her prime.

Spurs also dipped their toe into the loan market this summer too, bringing in American Goalkeeper, Katelin Talbert on loan from West Ham until January.

The former Benfica stopper hasn’t actually appeared for West Ham, being sent out on loan Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan in order to gain points for a Work Permit, where she appeared 9 times for the Swedish outfit.

A clear-cut strategy

If there is one thing in common with all of Tottenham’s moves, they fit a clear strategy the club is trying to implement.

• Amanda Nildén – 26 Years Old
• Ella Morris – 21 Years Old
• Clare Hunt – 25 Years Old
• Hayley Raso – 30 Years Old
• Anna Csiki – 24 Years Old
• Maite Oroz – 26 Years Old
• Katelin Talbert – 25 Years Old

All of the newest signings, aside from Raso, are 26 years of age or under, which outlines Vilahamn’s plan to buy young talent and help nurture them, very much in the candid and traditional Spurs way.

Raso brings experience to put her in the graphic that allows her to dispense her work on the younger members of the squad, particularly Lenna Gunning-Williams, with the latter performing consistently well in pre season.

Another example is young Ella Morris. The 21 year old will be behind both Ashleigh Neville and Charli Grant in the pecking order, but will gain invaluable experience being able to train with incredibly solid right backs as she searches to be a future senior Lioness.

Tough outgoings

Tottenham Hotspur’s journey over the last six years has been a struggle to put it bluntly. Though the promotion to the top-flight, staying there, all whilst climbing in progression has been sure to capture the hearts of fans each season. Despite the growing sentimentality of an exciting side under Robert Vilahamn, players who have played a crucial part in that journey seek pastures new at the turn of each summer.

No fewer than thirteen senior players departed N17 over the summer window, three on loan, and ten permanently- alongside a dozen youth team players, too.

The biggest name, would be Celin Bizet, who was actually the final player to depart Spurs in the transfer window, signing for Manchester United on a four year deal and re-uniting with her best friend, Grace Clinton, up in Manchester.

Bizet turned out 56 times in all competitions across her two years at Spurs, with the Norwegian starring on many occasions last term, including a memorable solo goal against Liverpool in a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road, whilst also setting up Martha Thomas’ winner in the North London Derby last December.

Barbora Votíková departed after just one season in Lilywhite, signing for Slavia Prague in her home country of Czech Republic.

Votíková’s Spurs debut will live long in the memory, with her Player of the Match performance in the 1-0 win over Arsenal in her very first start for the club. She went on to play 11 times for Spurs in all competitions before departing North London over the summer.

A host of the aforementioned players left the club at the end of their contracts. Nikola Karczwewska departed after 18 appearances, Ellie Brazil had two seasons of pretty much injury hell and only registered nine appearances for Spurs, with Shelina Zadorsky, Asmita Ale, Gracie Pearse and Ramona Petzelberger also departed Hotspur Way.

Rosella Ayane also departed Spurs temporarily, and will be spending the 2024/2025 season on loan stateside at Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL.

Ayane, who joined Spurs in 2019/2020 ahead of the clubs first ever Barclays WSL campaign scored some memorable goals in a Spurs shirt, with a goal that seemed to come off her hand standing away at Manchester City, to seal Spurs a 2-1 away win, and their first ever victory over the Cityzens in September 2021.

The Moroccan International kick started Spurs’ run to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup , scoring a late winner as her side came from 2-0 down to beat Sheffield United 3-2 in round four.

Ria Percival was one of the club’s longest serving players, having signed in a double deal with Becky Spencer from West Ham United in the Summer of 2019 before the club’s first ever Women’s Super League Season. 70 appearances, nine goals, one six-month loan in 2024 at Championship winners Crystal Palace later, she departs having played a tremendous part in Tottenham’s journey to where they are now.

The Likely Lineup

I am the furthest thing from a tactical expert that you could possibly think of, however I have had a go at looking at what Spurs may line up like under Vilahamn after a summer of big change.

Spencer (GK), Nildén, Hunt, Bühler, Neville, Ahitnen, Oroz, Raso, Csiki, Naz, England. (4-2-3-1)

This is wholly made up of personal opinion, but with the signings Spurs have made, lining up in Vilahamn’s favoured 4-2-3-1 makes perfect sense. Ahitnen and Bühler were both huge misses for Spurs when they had their respective injuries last term, both being crucial to the way Vilahamn deploys his side.

Squad depth is now a big luxury available for utilisation, with quality in Drew Spence, Evelina Summanen, Molly Bartrip, Charli Grant, Martha Thomas, among many senior players looking to give their boss a selection headache come match day.

Let’s also not forget the fledgling young careers of Lenna Gunning Williams, who starred on loan at Ipswich last term, Eleanor Heeps, who has bags of potential between the sticks, Araya Dennis arrives with much promise, and Milly Boughton, who made her senior debut last season for Spurs in the previously-named Continental Tyres League Cup.

Tottenham’s exciting squad has quality in every position, which shapes up to be quite the season preview for Robert Vilahamn’s side.

Blistering Preseason

Preseason has been majorly good for Spurs this term, with four behind closed doors friendlies, as well as two undisclosed ones for the squad to use as a means to get up to speed ahead of the new campaign.

A 6-1 win against London City Lionesses, a 2-1 victory over Southampton of the same division, 2-0 win over Feyernoord, and a 1-0 victory on September 15th against Manchester United have all signalled a successful preseason for Spurs.

Lenna Gunning Williams and Martha Thomas led the way with three goals each, Olga Ahitnen got two, whilst Shang Wuang, Jess Naz, and Evelina Summanen all notched in a pre season that saw Spurs score eleven goals and concede just two across four matches.

It has been a summer of change off the pitch in the playing squad for Spurs, but with the boss committing himself to the cause by signing a new deal, there is plenty to be optimistic about for 2024/2025 for all associated with Tottenham Hotspur.