After a long summer with the Olympics in the midst of it, the leagues around Europe are kicking off yet another season. The transfer windows are just closing and there has been a lot of movement of players across leagues. Here are some of the biggest transfers this summer.
Vivianne Miedema departs Arsenal for Manchester City
The news of the Dutch international's departure from the North London club after seven years broke in July. Miedema has become one of the faces of women's football internationally and Arsenal as a club throughout the years.
The 27-year-old's decision to leave the Gunners at the end of her contract was a mutual agreement between the club and the player. Several big clubs across Europe and North America were interested in the striker's signature, but the decision ultimately fell to signing a three-year deal with Manchester City. This signing is a bargain for Man City as they get a player on a free transfer, who is still in her prime, still scoring goals, and is eager to get new experiences. Miedema came to Arsenal in 2017 and is leaving with 1 WSL title and three League Cup trophies.
Another club legend that has been on the move this summer is Fran Kirby. Brighton Hove & Albion managed to get the signature of the 31-year old on a free transfer, penning a three year deal with the Seagulls. Kirby has for the past nine years been a central figure in the Chelsea team, as one of their most decorated players and becoming a fan favorite over the years. Fran Kirby has had a big role in Chelsea's recent dominance and is leaving the club with five WSL trophies, five FA Cup trophies, two FA League Cup trophies and a Community shield, as well as being a part of the team that became runners up in the 20/21 Champions League.
A new era begins at Kingsmeadow
After successfully lifting the WSL trophy for the fifth consecutive season, Chelsea will be looking to lift it for a sixth time with a new manager. With a change in manager comes a change in the team, and Sonia Bompastor has been eager to bring in her own signings.
Lucy Bronze returns to England yet again after spending two succsessful seasons in Spain with Barcelona. The 32-year old right-back pens a two year deal with Chelsea on a free transfer. Bronze has previously played under Bompastor in France, where she spent three years at Lyon.
Bompastor is strengthinging the forward line with the signing of Sandy Baltimore. The French forward is signing on a free transfer after spending eight years at PSG and have penned a four year deal with the club.
Additionally, Oriane Jean-Francois will be reunited with former teammates Baltimore and Lawrence after also leaving France in favor for England and London. The 23-year old midfielder has signed a four year deal with the London club, she is expected to be used as a box-to-box midfielder or hold down the central midfield for Bompastor.
Bompastor has not been afraid to add new but familiar players from France bringing in Maelys Mpom from Montepellier, Louna Ribadeira from Paris FC where she will spend the next season on loan. As well as adding Veerle Buurman from dutch side PSV and Spanish international Julia Bartel, all young and promising players.
Barcelona reinforces the squad
After winning all domestic trophies as well as walking away with the Champions League trophy last season, Barcelona has brought in a few players to the squad.
England international, Ellie Roebuck signed a two year deal replacing goalkeeper Sandra Paños. Polish striker Ewa Pajor left Wolfsburg to sign a three year deal with the club. Along with Pajor, Kika Nazareth is joining the club from Benefica.
The club has invested almost a million euros in the transfers for Pajor and Nazareth. Keira Walsh was long rumored to be leaving the club, wanting to get back on English soil and Arsenal but the deal eventually fell through and the midfielder will be spending another season at Barcelona.
Will this be the year for Marc Skinner?
Marc Skinner's Manchester United is coming off a dissappointing season after finishing in fifth, far off from the Champions League ambitions the club has set. Manchester United have been one of the most active sides in this window. Melvine Malard finally signed a permanent deal after spending one year with the Reds on loan from Lyon. Wolfsburg took yet another hit as experienced midfielder Dominique Janssen made the move on a two year deal. Norwegian striker Elisabeth Terland made the transfer from Brighton to Manchester United, signing a two year deal.
Damallsvenskan in Sweden is still a feeding ground for the bigger clubs around the world. This time it was BK Häckens defender, Anna Sandberg who Skinner set his eyes on. Grace Clinton has flourished at Tottenham after a loan spell last season, Robert Vilahamn doing everything she could to keep the English midfielder. Instead she had to watch Clinton return to Manchester United as well as seeing Celin Bizet leave for the Manchester club as well. Right before the window closed, Simi Awujo's arrival was announced.
As well as seeing six new additions to the team, Skinner saw some of his most experienced players leave. Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps left the club after her contract expired. After spending four years with Manchester United, she made the move abroad to PSG.
Katie Zelem has captained this United team since their WSL debut but eventually made the move to NWSL side Angel City FC after her contract ended. Nikita Parris also made a move on deadline day. The forward signed with Brighton Hove & Albion after two seasons with the Reds.
Moves across the pond
The last few seasons there has been a surge of talent moving to the NWSL in USA. Washington Spirit added Manchester City defender Esme Morgan to the team in the summer. The Spirit is already loaded with talents of Trinity Rodman, Casey Kruger and Hal Hershfelt. Esme Morgan is a solid defender coming off of a good stint with Manchester City.
Jess Carter and Ann-Katrin Berger both left Chelsea in favor of Gotham FC, adding to the stacked team of USWNT players that are already there. Chicago Red Stars have also brought in reinforcements from the WSL having brought in Rosella Ayane on loan from Tottenham Hotspurs.
Other Notable Transfers
Gabi Nunes
From: Levante
To: Aston Villa
Levante has taken a big hit this summer as most of their top players have left for other clubs. Aston Villa gets a top attacker in Brazilian international Gabi Nunes who stood for most of Levante's production last season. Aston Villa under a new manager is starting to shape up as an offensive productive team on paper.
Hayley Raso
From: Real Madrid
To: Tottenham Hotspurs
Raso is joining after a one year spell with the Spanish side. There are no big takeaways from her season with Real Madrid, seeing limited starts. However after Vilhamn lost both Clinton and Bizet, Raso will be seeing more minutes and is able to be a big part of the North London side this season.
Clare Hunt
From: PSG
To: Tottenham Hotspurs
Spurs biggest liabilty last season was a shaky defense. By adding Australian international, Vilahamn should have all the pieces to form a strong backline that can help support the midfield.
Rosa Kafaji
From: BK Häcken
To: Arsenal
As previously mentioned, Damallsvenskan is a league where the young players get to shine. Kafaji is signing with the Gunners after a strong UWCL performance and also breaking into the Swedish national team pool. Arsenal is getting a young and strong player with a lot of potential with this signing.
Aoba Fujino
From: Tokyo Verdy Beleza
To: Manchester City
The 20-year old from Japan made a name for herself after a stellar performance in the 2023 World Cup. She has now made the switch from Tokyo Verdy Beleza to the blue Manchester side. Even with her young age, Fujino is bringing international experience and a lot of potential to become a big player for the club in the future.
Romée Leuchter
From: Ajax
To: PSG
Leuchter is one of the most exciting forwards in the game right now. The 23-year old is leaving Ajax as the clubs top scorer, scoring 87 goals in 89 games for the dutch side. PSG landed a goal scoring machine who is still developing and full of potential. The Dutch international signed a three-year deal with the Paris club.
Griedge Mbock
From: Lyon
To: PSG
The Paris club have seen a lot of their players leave for the league rivals over the years. That's why this transfer is something of a mini-victory for the club. Mbock is one of the most decorated defenders in the world, having been human brick wall for the Lyon side for years. The defender will now head to a PSG side in the midst of rebuilding a team strong enough to take them to the final rounds of UWCL play.
Delphine Cascarino
From: Lyon
To: San Diego Wave
The 27-year old is joining a rusty San Diego side with six UWCL trophies under her belt, bringing valuable experience and routine to the NWSL side. For Lyon, this is a disappointing move as the club is losing one of their best attacking players. For San Diego, this might be the exact thing they need, a new player with a fresh style of play and an eye for goals.
Justine Kielland
From: SK Brann
To: Wolfsburg
Brann made shockwaves through Europe last season when the team from Norway qualified for the UWCL group stages. After holding their own pretty well against Barcelona, there were no doubts they would be losing some of their better players. Wolfsburg has a history of signing young Norwegian players coming off of a good tournament, with mixed success. With Kielland, Wolfsburg is getting an attacking minded midfielder who is young, full of potential and might be an important piece in rebuilding the team.
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