The 2025/26 Women’s Super League summer transfer window was one of the most memorable in the competition’s history.
The world record fee was broken multiple times over, including by the newly promoted team (who also brought in 16 other players), and two players crossed enemy lines in Manchester in a deadline day swap deal.
The January transfer window has already seen some seismic moves for teams up and down the league – Norwegian wonderkid Signe Gaupset already impressing for Spurs, and the latest eye-catching addition being USWNT superstar Sam Coffey to Manchester City.
While January signings can and no doubt will move the needle for their teams as we head into the business end of the WSL season, it’s the summer signings that we’ve got a good grasp on. Who is currently making the biggest impact for their new side?
Arsenal: Olivia Smith
When Arsenal made a statement of intent by meeting Liverpool’s £1m fee for Olivia Smith, few were surprised she’d become the world’s first million-pound player. Having seriously impressed in her first season in the WSL with the Reds, it felt like only a matter of time before other teams came calling.
In need of more depth in their wide areas as well as wanting to bring the average age of their squad down, it’s proven to be a very smart signing for Arsenal, for now and for the future. Already an exceptional talent, it’s difficult to comprehend just how high a ceiling Smith might have.
In the league, she’s registered three goals and an assist so far, and may have had even more of a tangible impact had she not missed some game time through injury. But what she brings to Arsenal is clear to see – an impetus and directness to their attack, someone who defenders often can’t deal with, and a noticeable injection of energy if and when she comes off the bench.
Aston Villa: Lucia Kendall
Villa’s midfield often felt like a bit of a puzzle to solve last season, with striker Rachel Daly often having to drop back to help out, sometimes leaving them toothless in attack. When Jill Baijings – now a Villa player permanently after a loan spell last season – ruptured her ACL in the third game of the season, it seemed their worries may compound.
However, they had a more than capable understudy waiting in the wings. 21-year-old Lucia Kendall arrived from WSL2 side Southampton in the summer, and before Baijing’s injury made two appearances: starting the game against Arsenal and coming off the bench against Chelsea. She’s since started every game in Villa’s midfield, earning herself a senior England call-up and impressing on her debut against Australia.
Most recently, she whipped in a deliciously-delivered freekick to assist Rachel Daly’s headed equaliser against Brighton. Industrious out of possession and incredibly tidy on the ball, she’s a fantastic acquisition with a bright future. It’ll be interesting to see if Kendall keeps her regular spot in the team as Villa have now added French midfielder Oriane Jean-François for a fee of £450,000 from Chelsea.
Brighton: Chiamaka Nnadozie
Although they had two relatively solid goalkeepers last season, former Paris FC stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie has offered Brighton a definite upgrade. Sophie Baggaley and Melina Loeck jostled for the number one spot last season, with a save rate of 69.6% and 61% respectively – often coming in or dropping out due to memorable performances, unfortunately not always good ones.
It felt as though Brighton needed a clear number one, with a strong backup. This one perhaps flew under the radar slightly for how much of a get it was – a young goalkeeper with international and Champions League experience to an up-and-coming team like Brighton, for free.
A proven shot stopper, her 82.4% save rate is currently the second best in the league, but it’s also Nnadozie’s bravery in coming off her line as well as with the ball at her feet that’s so valuable to Brighton’s aggressive, front-footed style.
Chelsea: Alyssa Thompson
It is very like Chelsea to do good business in the transfer market, but their deadline day deal for US winger Alyssa Thompson, although up there in terms of the fee (according to various sources, around £1m), was practically a steal. The 20-year-old had signed a contract extension with her hometown club Angel City in January, through to 2028, and is widely considered the future of the US national team.
Similar to Olivia Smith, an already recognised talent with endless potential, Thompson has more than proven her worth in this uncharacteristically goal-shy Chelsea team, currently leading on WSL goal involvements in the squad along with Wieke Kaptein.
Bags of pace, technical skill and refreshingly direct, she’ll be key to Chelsea’s bid to close the gap with City and their hopes for finally lifting the Champions League trophy.
Everton: Ornella Vignola
It would be hard to find an attacking signing that would have as big an impact on Everton as Kelly Gago did when she signed in January 2025, but in the opening game of the season, it looked like Ornella Vignola might just top it.
Scoring a hat trick in the Merseyside derby at Anfield was the perfect WSL debut. The young Spaniard hasn’t quite been able to replicate that level since, as manager Brian Sorensen has been tinkering with his starting XI, but she’s still completed the most key passes and the most progressive carries in the squad, and remains their top goalscorer.
Leicester: Olivia McLoughlin
Many a Foxes fan had their head in their hands when news broke of budding Lioness Ruby Mace being sold to close rivals Everton days before the window closed.
Despite missing a good chunk of last season through injury, her ability to lock down the Leicester midfield was undeniable, and it was a real concern that no one would be able to take her place, least of all because there wasn’t much time to find someone.
Olivia McLoughlin was a deadline day signing from Rangers, and having previously played for Villa, is not new to the WSL. She’s proven to be a vital cog in Leicester’s team, particularly impressive in her ability on the ball, a critical factor as they try to become better in possession.
Liverpool: Beata Olsson
Liverpool had a fairly disappointing summer window, given the sale of Olivia Smith, the funds from which they reportedly invested in paying off Gareth Taylor’s gardening leave rather than bolstering their squad. However they weren’t completely inactive, and a bright spark has emerged exactly when they need her.
Beata Olsson has proven a potent threat on counterattacks, netting five in six in the league before the winter break. Olsson was sidelined in their most recent fixture against London City Lionesses, and her directness was sorely missed as they ground out a dull 0-0 draw without a shot on target.
With the Reds rooted to the bottom of the table without a win in the league this season, they’ll be hoping to get her back fit and firing as soon as possible.
London City Lionesses: Jana Fernàndez
There were a plethora of options to choose from for newly promoted London City Lionesses, who bought in 17 players over the summer, the most notable perhaps being current world-recoed signing Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint-Germain. However the key signing was made earlier in the window, bringing full back Jana Fernàndez in from Barcelona.
Luring La Masia talent over to the WSL from the imperious perennial champions often feels like a bit of a coup, but for a newly promoted team even more so. Often stymied for minutes behind the ever-present Ona Battle, Fernández has no doubt come in search of regular gametime and has found it at LCL as one of their key players.
The Spaniard has completed the third most tackles and interceptions in the league, as well as being the player who has completed the most passes into the final third for LCL.
Manchester City: Iman Beney
No one could argue City had horrific luck with injuries last season, and at some stages their attacking resources were seriously depleted; for example in their 19th game against Everton, they were without Bunny Shaw, Vivianne Miedema, Aoba Fujino, Lauren Hemp or Mary Fowler. January signing Kerolin was a fantastic one, but it was clear they needed more depth to get themselves back in contention for the league.
Young Swiss forward Iman Beney had looked a bright spark at the Euros with her national team, and has proven a real asset to City’s squad. Despite having a comparatively sparse amount of gametime, her contributions so far have been vital, her two goals in the league being in crucial moments, one the equaliser against Liverpool, and the other the winner against Arsenal.
Last season with Young Boys she scored 7 goals in 12.7 90s; you’d suspect she’ll be adding more to her tally given the chance, and at just 19-years-old, it’ll be exciting to see the heights she can hit in the WSL.
Manchester United: Jess Park
Dubbed the deadline day “Freaky Friday”, the Manchester clubs swapped a Lioness for a Lioness – United trading Grace Clinton and getting Jess Park in return. Often locked into a fairly specific role in Gareth Taylor’s rigid system at City, Park showed flashes of her creative brilliance but perhaps not her full potential.
Given more of a free rein at United, she’s brought a much-needed flair and creativity to their attack. Last season their defence was incredibly solid but they often struggled to match the goalscoring form of the teams around them.
Park is currently just behind her England teammate Ella Toone in goal involvements for United; and the two often link up well, Toone assisting her twice for an impressive brace off the bench against Everton.
Tottenham Hotspur: Tōko Koga
Last season was a pretty disastrous one for Spurs. Finishing second from bottom and suffering early exits from both cup competitions, there were myriad issues to contend with, but one which stood out was defence.
They conceded the second-most goals in the WSL (along with Villa), as well as committing the second-most defensive errors. This season has been almost a complete transformation, and the addition of Japanese centre-back Tōko Koga has been a significant part of that.
At just 20 years old, Koga looks almost as comfortable and confident as some of the most seasoned WSL defenders, forming an effective partnership with Clare Hunt to create the dependable presence at the back they so sorely needed.
West Ham: Ffion Morgan
West Ham have not had an easy first half of the season, found lacking at both ends of the pitch – they’ve conceded the most in the league, and their most reliable sources of goals, Vivianne Asseyi, Riko Ueki, and Shekira Martinez, are struggling to find the fantastic form they had at the end of the 24/25 campaign.
It’s not all doom and gloom stats-wise; they are creating chances, and you feel as though all it will take is an injection of confidence and a bit of momentum to course correct. A source of hope is the presence of Welsh winger Ffion Morgan, who despite having only played just under eight 90s in the league is in the top four for most attacking stats in the squad.
Although she’s yet to score in the league, she netted twice in their comprehensive League Cup victory against Southampton.
