WSL 2025–26 Summer Transfers: Who Strengthened, Who Struggled, and Who Stands Still (Part 1)
Arsenal and Chelsea make smart moves while Brighton gambles big on overseas talent. Data-driven analysis of every signing's impact on WSL minutes, goals, and market value.
Introduction
The summer window has reshaped the Women's Super League landscape. Using WSL-only 2024/25 minutes, goals + assists, age, and market value, we break down each club's transfer balance to assess who comes out stronger — and who faces a step back.
With clubs increasingly looking beyond England's borders and loan strategies becoming more sophisticated, this window tells a story of calculated risks, smart value plays, and some potentially costly gambles.
📊 League-Wide Overview
Biggest Net Winners (Value): London City (+€950k), Arsenal (+€595k), Brighton (+€520k).
Biggest Net Losers (Value): Man City (–€985k), Liverpool (–€340k), West Ham (–€245k).
Most Minutes Lost: Brighton (–8,909), Leicester (–5,659), Everton (–5,460).
Most Minutes Gained: London City (+3,377), Arsenal (+3,144).
Biggest G+A Swings: Arsenal (+8), Brighton (–12), City (–15), Leicester (–7), Liverpool (–8).
Key Trend: Clubs are increasingly willing to sacrifice proven WSL experience for younger, overseas talent — a strategy that could reshape the league’s competitive balance by Christmas.
📊 Team-by-Team Analysis
Part 1 covers the first six WSL clubs in alphabetical order, analysing their transfer business through minutes, goals + assists, market value, and strategic impact.
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Brighton
Chelsea
Everton
Leicester City
1. Arsenal
🔴 Arsenal Women’s Arrivals (2025/26)
Anneke Borbe — Wolfsburg | Age 24 | €70,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Chloe Kelly — Man City | Age 27 | €800,000 | 677 mins | 5 G+A
Taylor Hinds — Liverpool | Age 26 | €100,000 | 1,912 mins | 2 G+A
Olivia Smith — Liverpool | Age 21 | €465,000 | 1,569 mins | 7 G+A
🔴 Arsenal Women’s Departures (2025/26)
Michelle Agyemang — Brighton (loan) | Age 19 | €300,000 | 576 mins | 4 G+A
Rosa Kafaji — Brighton (loan) | Age 22 | €150,000 | 133 mins | 1 G+A
Teyah Goldie — London City | Age 21 | €10,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Lina Hurtig — Fiorentina | Age 29 | €150,000 | 59 mins | 1 G+A
Freya Godfrey — London City | Age 20 | €20,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Amanda Ilestedt — Frankfurt | Age 32 | €150,000 | 16 mins | 0 G+A
Laura Wienroither — Man City | Age 26 | €60,000 | 230 mins | 0 G+A
📝 Verdict
Arsenal’s summer has been net positive:
Added 3,100+ WSL minutes and +€0.6m net value.
Kelly and Smith bring nine goals and three assists between them.
Departures were mostly fringe or loans, with just ~1,000 minutes lost.
➡️ Verdict: Strengthened — Arsenal traded fringe depth for proven contributors, especially in attack, and emerge richer in both value and depth.
2. Aston Villa
🟣 Aston Villa Women’s Arrivals (2025/26)
Lynn Wilms — Wolfsburg | Age 24 | €125,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Ellie Roebuck — Barcelona | Age 25 | €60,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Océane Deslandes — Montpellier | Age 24 | €85,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Jill Baijings — Bayern Munich | Age 24 | €50,000 | 728 mins | 1 G+A
Lucia Kendall — Southampton | Age 21 | €0 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
🟣 Aston Villa Women’s Departures (2025/26)
Katie Robinson — Everton (loan) | Age 22 | €85,000 | 537 mins | 0 G+A
Rachel Corsie — Retired | Age 36 | €0 | 12 mins | 0 G+A
Jordan Nobbs — Newcastle Utd | Age 32 | €75,000 | 1,532 mins | 1 G+A
Maz Pacheco — Everton | Age 26 | €70,000 | 486 mins | 1 G+A
Sophia Poor — London City | Age 19 | €20,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Danielle Turner — Melbourne City | Age 33 | €30,000 | 1,206 mins | 0 G+A
📝 Verdict
Villa’s window is best described as a transition:
Lost experience & minutes: Nobbs, Turner, and Pacheco alone take out 3,700+ WSL minutes and 2 G+A, while Corsie’s retirement removes a long-standing leader.
Added continental recruits: Wilms, Roebuck, and Deslandes raise quality on paper but bring little WSL experience — adaptation will be key.
One proven returnee: Baijings (728 mins, 1 G+A) offers continuity after a strong loan spell, while Kendall is more of a flyer from the Championship.
Balance sheet: Market value edges up slightly (+€40k), but on-pitch contributions trend down.
➡️ Verdict: Transitioning — Villa traded minutes and leadership for potential. The rebuild lowers squad age and adds continental quality, but short-term competitiveness may dip until new arrivals settle.
3. Brighton
🔵 Brighton Women’s Arrivals (2025/26)
Carla Camacho — Real Madrid | Age 20 | €30,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Chiamaka Nnadozie — Paris FC | Age 24 | €125,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Maëlys Mpomé — Chelsea | Age 22 | €120,000 | 174 mins | 0 G+A
Manuela Vanegas — Real Sociedad | Age 24 | €150,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Michelle Agyemang — Arsenal (loan) | Age 19 | €300,000 | 576 mins | 4 G+A
Moeka Minami — Roma | Age 26 | €95,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Rosa Kafaji — Arsenal (loan) | Age 22 | €150,000 | 133 mins | 1 G+A
🔵 Brighton Women’s Departures (2025/26)
Comfort Erhabor — Portsmouth | Age 20 | €10,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Dejana Stefanović — Free agent | Age 28 | €35,000 | 125 mins | 0 G+A
Guro Bergsvand — Wolfsburg | Age 31 | €80,000 | 1,916 mins | 0 G+A
Maria Thorisdottir — Marseille | Age 32 | €40,000 | 1,098 mins | 0 G+A
Melina Loeck — Hammarby (loan) | Age 25 | €25,000 | 720 mins | 0 G+A
Mengwen Li — Free agent | Age 30 | €25,000 | 768 mins | 0 G+A
Nikita Parris — London City | Age 31 | €80,000 | 1,850 mins | 12 G+A
Pauline Bremer — Köln | Age 29 | €40,000 | 577 mins | 2 G+A
Poppy Pattinson — London City | Age 25 | €70,000 | 1,527 mins | 2 G+A
Vicky Losada — Bristol City | Age 34 | €45,000 | 1,211 mins | 1 G+A
📝 Verdict
Brighton’s window is a high-risk, high-upside gamble:
Departures: over 8,900 WSL minutes and 17 G+A lost, including leaders Parris, Pattinson, and Bergsvand.
Arrivals: statement signings in Nnadozie (GK), Vanegas (defensive anchor), and Minami, plus Arsenal loanees Agyemang (4 G+A) and Kafaji (1 G+A).
Profile shift: average age in is 22 vs out 29 → clear youth injection, with a net +€520k value gain.
Balance: the squad is younger and more valuable, but lacks proven WSL production and will rely heavily on imports settling quickly.
➡️ Verdict: Gamble — weakened short-term, but with genuine long-term upside. Brighton have traded proven WSL minutes for talent and potential; the season hinges on how fast their new signings adapt.
4. Chelsea
🔵 Chelsea Women’s Arrivals (2025/26)
Livia Peng — Bremen | Age 23 | €140,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Mara Alber — Hoffenheim | Age 19 | €200,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Ellie Carpenter — Lyon | Age 25 | €550,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Rebecca Spencer — Tottenham | Age 34 | €35,000 | 720 mins | 0 G+A
🔵 Chelsea Women’s Departures (2025/26)
Vera Jones — Bristol City | Age 17 | €0 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Lola Brown — Crystal Palace | Age 17 | €0 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Katie Cox — Aberdeen | Age 19 | €10,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Zećira Mušović — Malmö FF | Age 29 | €80,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Greta Humphries — Free agent | Age 20 | €0 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Lucy Watson — Free agent | Age 21 | €10,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Ashley Lawrence — Lyon | Age 30 | €300,000 | 973 mins | 4 G+A
Aniek Nouwen — PSV | Age 26 | €60,000 | 360 mins | 1 G+A
Mia Fishel — Seattle Reign | Age 24 | €80,000 | 128 mins | 1 G+A
Sophie Ingle — Bristol City | Age 33 | €50,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Aimee Claypole — Nottingham | Age 19 | €40,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Maëlys Mpomé — Brighton | Age 22 | €120,000 | 174 mins | 0 G+A
📝 Verdict
Chelsea’s summer is about re-tooling with a top-end upgrade:
Arrivals: marquee signing Ellie Carpenter strengthens full-back, while Alber, Peng, and Spencer add depth and future potential.
Departures: over 1,600 WSL minutes and 6 G+A lost, including Lawrence, Nouwen, and Fishel, plus veteran leader Sophie Ingle.
Balance: squad value rises slightly (+€175k), and quality at the top end improves, but depth and experience have clearly thinned.
➡️ Verdict: Re-tooling — Chelsea swapped experience for youth and potential, but Carpenter’s arrival keeps their elite quality intact. Depth is slimmer, yet the ceiling remains as high as ever.
5. Everton
🔵 Everton Women’s Arrivals (2025/26)
Maz Pacheco — Aston Villa | Age 26 | €70,000 | 486 mins | 1 G+A
Ornella Vignola — Granada CF | Age 20 | €70,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Rosa van Gool — Ajax | Age 21 | €25,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Rion Ishikawa — Urawa Reds | Age 22 | €0 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Katie Robinson — Aston Villa | Age 23 | €85,000 | 537 mins | 0 G+A
Hikaru Kitagawa — Häcken | Age 28 | €45,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Yuka Momiki — Leicester | Age 29 | €65,000 | 1,641 mins | 5 G+A
Martina Fernández — Barcelona | Age 20 | €60,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
🔵 Everton Women’s Departures (2025/26)
Melissa Lawley — Burnley (loan) | Age 31 | €30,000 | 508 mins | 1 G+A
Rikke Madsen — HB Køge | Age 27 | €35,000 | 98 mins | 0 G+A
Lauren Thomas — Sheffield Utd | Age 25 | €10,000 | 1 min | 0 G+A
Karoline Olesen — Malmö FF | Age 20 | €75,000 | 824 mins | 0 G+A
Sara Holmgaard — Real Madrid | Age 26 | €90,000 | 1,641 mins | 7 G+A
Vevatriki Sarri — Birmingham City | Age 27 | €40,000 | 777 mins | 3 G+A
Maren Mjelde — Arna-Bjørnar | Age 35 | €35,000 | 450 mins | 1 G+A
Heather Payne — Leicester | Age 25 | €80,000 | 1,107 mins | 1 G+A
Justine Vanhaevermaet — Crystal Palace | Age 33 | €30,000 | 1,644 mins | 1 G+A
📝 Verdict
Everton’s window was a major reset with high risk attached:
Departures: 7,000+ WSL minutes and 14 G+A lost, including Holmgaard, Sarri, Payne, and Vanhaevermaet, plus leadership with Mjelde gone.
Arrivals: a blend of WSL-proven (Momiki, Pacheco, Robinson) and youthful imports (Vignola, Fernández, van Gool, Ishikawa).
Balance: Momiki is the standout and could replace Holmgaard’s lost output, but most others are unproven at WSL level. Only marginally down in value (–€5k), but heavily down in minutes (–4,386) and output (–8 G+A).
➡️ Verdict: Weakened (short-term) — Everton traded production and leadership for potential. A risky rebuild that leans heavily on Momiki’s impact and the quick adaptation of imports.
6. Leicester City
🦊 Leicester City Women’s Arrivals (2025/26)
Heather Payne — Everton | Age 25 | €80,000 | 1,107 mins | 1 G+A
Katie Keane — Shamrock Rovers | Age 19 | €0 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Celeste Boureille — Montpellier | Age 31 | €50,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
🦊 Leicester City Women’s Departures (2025/26)
Lena Petermann — Bremen | Age 31 | €40,000 | 0 mins | 0 G+A
Saori Takarada — Cerezo Osaka | Age 25 | €55,000 | 860 mins | 1 G+A
Sophie Howard — Como | Age 31 | €30,000 | 1,890 mins | 2 G+A
Yuka Momiki — Everton | Age 29 | €65,000 | 1,641 mins | 5 G+A
Courtney Nevin — Malmö FF | Age 23 | €60,000 | 761 mins | 0 G+A
Deanne Rose — Free agent | Age 26 | €60,000 | 407 mins | 0 G+A
CJ Bott — Wellington | Age 30 | €40,000 | 1,207 mins | 0 G+A
📝 Verdict
Leicester’s window was a major talent drain:
Departures: nearly 6,800 WSL minutes and 8 G+A lost, with Momiki, Howard, and Nevin all gone.
Arrivals: Payne offers solidity at full-back, but Boureille and Keane add little immediate WSL impact.
Balance: squad value drops (–€220k), and depth/creativity look thinner without Momiki and Howard.
➡️ Verdict: Weakened — Leicester shed too much proven quality without adequate replacement. Payne helps, but the squad looks lighter in both minutes and attacking output.
📅 What's Next
Part 2 Coming Soon: We'll analyse the remaining six WSL clubs in the second installment of this series, including Manchester City's surprising net losses and Liverpool's rebuild strategy.
Live Updates: This analysis will be refreshed at the transfer window's close (September 1st) to capture any late moves and provide final verdicts on each club's summer business.
Follow the Data: Track how these predictions play out as the season unfolds — the first month will tell us everything about which clubs got their recruitment right.
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✅ Part 2 Published: We’ve now analysed the remaining six WSL clubs — including London City rebuild strategy and Manchester City’s net losses. [Read Part 2 of our WSL 2025/26 Summer Transfers Analysis Here]
Interesting article! Jill Baijings is 24 yo tho, not 36 :)