It has been a busy transfer window in the Women’s Super League with more players arriving from abroad and big moves within the league.
But who did the best business in January? Who got a boost mid-season? Who should have gotten stronger?
BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders and Jo Currie take a look at the whereabouts and how each team fared in the January window.
Arsenal
In:
Fran Stenson [loan at Birmingham City ended]
Sabrina D’Angelo [Vittsjo GIK] undisclosed
Gio Queiroz [loan at Everton ended]
Katherine Kuhl [Nordsjaelland] undisclosed
Victoria Pelova [Ajax] undisclosed
Outside:
Jordan Nobs – [Aston Villa] £40,000
Mana Iwabuchi [Tottenham Hotspur] Lend
Sanders: “Arsenal’s January activity was rampant. They had several targets which they sorted early on and did some good business, particularly with the signing of young Denmark midfielder Kuhl, but player injuries keys meant they were desperately chasing the attackers until the deadline.
“Their world record for Alessia Russo was ambitious and showed intent, but they ultimately missed out and will feel they lack bodies for the second half of the season.”
AstonVilla
In:
Jordan Nobs [Arsenal] £40,000
Lucy Staniforth [Manchester United] To free
Outside:
Isobel Goodwin- [Coventry United] To free
Curry: “The biggest signings have been at Villa. Bringing in Nobbs and Staniforth are big statements after bringing in Daly in the summer. It shows the influence Villa and Carla Ward now have and in which direction the club is going.”
Sanders: “Villa have had arguably the best transfer window in the WSL – they want to finish fifth in the table and have added the tools to help them achieve that.”
Brighton
In:
Lydia Williams [Paris St-Germain] undisclosed
Zoe Morse [Chicago Red Stars] undisclosed
Brianna Visalli [Houston Dash] undisclosed
Dejana Stefanovic [Valerenga] undisclosed
Gouro Bergsvand [Brann] undisclosed
Sanders: “Under new management Brighton have understandably been busy and have added depth in almost every department. Williams will bring experience in goal and they have a few more options in midfield. I still think they are lacking. a top scorer and that could be the difference between staying up or going down.”
chelsea
In:
Maika Hamano [INAC Kobe] undisclosed
Outside:
Bethany England [Tottenham Hotspur] undisclosed
Aniek Nouwen [AC Milan] Lend
Maika Hamano [Hammarby] Lend
Charlotte Wardlaw [Lewes] Lend
Curry: “Chelsea are a team that haven’t needed to do a lot of business and letting England go, even for a decent amount of money, shows they have a lot of goals in the team. If they get injured, they might miss her, she’s one of those players who scores goals.”
Sanders: “Chelsea did not strengthen in the window and they allowed a few players to leave, including England and Nouwen on loan. With Arsenal and Manchester United making strong signings, it could have been a missed opportunity for the Blues. , but they are planning big moves in the summer.
Everton
In:
Sara Holmgaard [loan at Fortuna Hjorring ended]
Claire Wheeler [Fortuna Hjorring] undisclosed
Outside:
Gio Queiroz [loan at Arsenal ended]
Sanders: “A quiet window for Everton after a very busy summer. Sara Holmgaard was a sensible addition. They were keen to sign goalkeeper Emily Ramsey on a permanent deal with Manchester United but were unable to do so. Overall, I think Everton have what it takes and they need to continue their progress from the disappointment of last season.”
Leicester
In:
ruby mace [Manchester City] Lend
Georgia Eaton-Collins [Free agent]
Courtney Nevin [Hammarby] Lend
Janina Leitzig [Bayern Munich] Lend
Remy Siemsen [Sydney FC] undisclosed
Outside:
Natasha Flint [Celtic] Lend
Connie Scofield [Coventry United] Lend
Georgia Brougham – Terminated contract
Sanders: “It’s been a really strong window from Leicester and it gives them a chance to stay put. Mace, on loan from Manchester City, is a real hit and that’s the quality they need. Bayern Munich goalkeeper Leitzig, also on loan, looks very strong The only concern is that in the summer they will have several players who will form the core of the team due to the end of the loan agreements.
liverpool
In:
Miri Taylor [Angel City FC] undisclosed
Fuka Nagono [North Carolina Courage] undisclosed
Sofie Lundgaard [Fortuna Hjorring] undisclosed
Gemma Bonner [Racing Louisville] undisclosed
Natasha Dowie [Reading] Lend
Outside:
Gilly Flaherty [Retired]
Curry: “I think Liverpool have enough in the squad and enough experience to be safe. I know there is a lot of excitement around Nagono and signing Bonner comes at a good time because she knows the club all the way. Especially with the retirement of Flaherty – an experienced centre-back coming out and an experienced centre-back coming in.”
Sanders: “Liverpool left far too late to sign a striker and had limited options, but secured Dowie’s loan from Reading before the deadline which is a significant addition given the delay. They have brought in younger options to the midfielder who may need time to settle in and Liverpool need the players to step up as they are in a relegation battle.”
Manchester City
Outside:
ruby mace [Leicester City] Lend
Khiara Keating [Coventry United] Lend
Curry: “City brought in a lot of young international players last summer and they talk about exciting prospects, but it’s been a long time since they signed someone you thought ‘wow’ – for example when they signed Carli Lloyd Bunny Shaw is doing great but they lost Ellen White, Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze.
“I don’t think they’ve been replaced with the same quality, which is odd when you consider the training center and facilities, which are among the best in the world. You can read there that Gareth Taylor is happy with the the team as it is.”
Manchester United
In:
Lisa Naalsund [Brann] undisclosed
Jayde Riviere [AFC Ann Arbor] undisclosed
Estelle Cascarino [Paris St-Germain] Lend
Outside:
Jade Moore [Reading] Lend
Grace Clinton [Bristol City] Lend
Lucy Staniforth [Aston Villa] To free
Sanders: “United’s new signings are exciting and definitely bring quality and depth to a strong squad. They will be happy with their transfer activity, but there remains huge concern over several key players whose contracts are about to expire, including including top scorer Russo.”
Reading
In:
Jade Moore [Manchester United] Lend
Sanders: “On-loan United midfielder Moore is a major asset to Reading’s low-budget side. Kelly Chambers wants a striker and has been looking at centre-back options in Scandinavia so they are yet to add this summer. I think they needed to bring in more quality to help their relegation battle.”
Tottenham Hotspur
In:
Bethany England [Chelsea] undisclosed
Mana Iwabuchi [Arsenal] Lend
Outside:
Gracie Pearse [Bristol City] Lend
Esther Morgan [Sunderland] Lend
Curry: “England could have gotten into just about any team in Europe, they wouldn’t have run out of offers, so the fact that Spurs won that battle to sign her is important. That they have the players to provide the service she needs to score the goals is something else, I think they will get better [in the relegation battle] with the signatures they made.”
Sanders: “Spurs were very ambitious in the window, bringing in England and Iwabuchi – two players who will hugely improve their attacking threat. Their business has been successful.”
West Ham
In:
Anouk Denton [Louisville Cardinals] undisclosed
Amber Tysiak [Oud-Heverlee Leiven] undisclosed
Amelie Thestrup [PSV Vrouwen] Lend
Outside:
Grace Garrad [Stabaek] undisclosed
Claudia Walker [Birmingham City] undisclosed
Alex Hennessy [Free agent]
Thea Kyvag [LSK Kvinner] undisclosed
Sanders: “West Ham brought more options in defense and they managed to get striker Thestrup on loan on deadline day. They have to share goals around the team after relying heavily on Dagny Brynjarsdottir this season and they need Thestrup to help them. She struggled during a short spell at Liverpool, but hopefully West Ham will have had enough.”
