WSL Finished Jobs: Every transfer in January 2025

The January transfer window has officially opened and several Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs have already welcomed new faces into their ranks.

Chelsea were sitting comfortably at the top of the league when the WSL entered the winter break at the end of last year, six points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

However, clubs have since started to take advantage of the new opportunity to strengthen their squads with the opening of the January transfer window, in an attempt to move further up the league table.

With a depleted squad due to injury problems, Brian Sorensen’s Everton side got the job done early. Manchester City and Tottenham have also followed suit, while other clubs are still weighing up their options.

90 min gives an overview of all jobs that have been done so far…

The Cityzens have faced a raft of injury problems heading into the Christmas period, with captain Alex Greenwood undergoing knee surgery. City have not relented in their quest to secure a back-up for the loss of their star defender, signing Rebecca Knaak on the opening day of the transfer window.

Knaak joins the Cityzens from FC Rosengard, where they won the Swedish Damallsvenskan title in the 2024 season. The talismanic centre-back is a defensive wall but can also provide a real attacking threat. Knaak scored 12 goals for Rosengard in the 2024 season, despite playing in the heart of the defense.

The 28-year-old will be an important addition to Gareth Taylor’s City side if they are to close the gap on Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.

After struggling with goals, Everton had a reform of momentum ahead of Christmas when they secured a 2-1 win over Manchester City. Sorensen’s side also gave a good account of themselves against some of the top sides, holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season.

Holding on by their fingernails, Everton are desperate for fresh blood after losing Aurora Galli and Inma Gabarro to ACL injuries earlier in the campaign. The Toffees have now welcomed French forward Kelly Gago from FC Nantes.

The 26-year-old has joined for an undisclosed fee and is sure to add some flair to Sorensen’s attack as the WSL enters the business end of the season.

Everton was further strengthened by the arrival of young Spanish star Martina Fernandez. The 20-year-old has joined the Toffees on loan from Champions League holders FC Barcelona.

The centre-back is well decorated on the international stage, winning back-to-back European Championships with Spain’s under-19 team. The promising star comes with impressive versatility, able to play both central defender and wing-back.

Despite early concerns from fans, Tottenham currently sit a solid sixth in the WSL table. Roberto Vilahamn’s side have shown some positive signs in the early stages of the 2024/25 season, but at the end they are still feeling the loss of the attacking partnership of Grace Clinton and Celin Bizet, who left the club for Manchester United last summer.

However, in an attempt to fill that void, they signed Danish forward Olivia Holdt from Sweden’s FC Rosengard. The 23-year-old has signed a contract that will see her play in north London until 2027.

Holdt was a prolific goalscorer during her two seasons at Rosengard, scoring 25 goals in 39 appearances for the club.

Arsenal have announced that young academy star Laila Herbert has signed her first professional contract with the club after turning 18 earlier this month. Herbert is a hot prospect for the Gunners, having recently captained England at the Under-17 World Cup last October.

The Hale End has produced some brilliant talent for the Gunners, including England captain Leah Williamson and Arsenal’s 2023/24 player of the season. Lotte Wubben-Moy.

The exciting midfielder will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the academy talent who came before her as she puts pen to paper on a new deal.

Tracking 90 minutes earlier predicting that Jess Simpson would be sent out on loan, Manchester United have now confirmed that the 19-year-old has joined Championship side Bristol City until the end of the season.

Having returned from an ACL injury in the latter stages of 2024, Simpson will now get the chance to prove himself when he returns to City. The defender will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of team-mate Grace Clinton, who also spent time on loan at the Robins after signing a contract with United in 2022.

Manchester United have confirmed the departure of another rising star, ace 18-year-old Emma Watson is leaving Carrington to join Everton on loan until the end of the 2024/25 season.

The Scotland midfielder returned from an ACL injury in November, making her senior debut for the Red Devils in a 2-0 League Cup win against Everton.

Blues fans will be relieved to know that Guro Reiten put the new agreement on paper in Cobham which will allow her to stay at the club until 2026.

The Norwegian left forward has been an integral part of Chelsea’s dominance in the league since joining the club in 2019. Reiten has scored six goals so far in the 2024/25 season. and was named player of the month in November.

Chelsea have reduced their squad over the past week as Aniek Nouwen has also signed an extension. The 25-year-old signed a new contract according to which she will stay at the club until 2026.

Branič signed with the Blues in 2021, and he made only 21 appearances for the club. Nouwen is in the second half of the 2022/2023 season. was on loan at Serie A side AC Milan, before returning to Cobham in the summer.

Nouwen made just one appearance for the Blues during the 2023/24 season, before devastatingly tearing her ACL while on international duty with the Netherlands under-23 side.

Chelsea have recalled forward Louna Ribadeira on loan with Paris FC after signing with the Blues in the summer of 2024.

She signed a four-year contract with the WSL club, after spending three years with Paris FC. After being sent back to France on loan for the 2024/25 season, Chelsea have now confirmed her return.

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