Women's transfer window summer 2020

Having a cursory review of the

Women's transfer window summer 2020

, it is quite notable that out of the 73 new signings for the Women’s Super League (WSL) Clubs, 23 have been English players while 68.5% of these signings have been from other countries all over the world. In general, 21 nationalities have been represented in the signings.

and

Women’s Clubs signed four members of the US World Cup winning team. Although, this shows the growing popularity of the WSL in attracting foreign ‘stars,’ some have criticized ignoring each countries young talents, hindering their development and opportunities for playing in top teams.

To address this situation, it is reported that the WSL is introducing a ‘home grown’ players’ quota from the 2021-2022 season onwards.

Under the new rules agreed between the Clubs and the English FA (Football Association), which is also responsible for the women’s game, of each Club’s squad capped at 25 players, a minimum of 8 players must have been trained by their Club, or another Club in England, for at least three years before their twenty-first birthday.

Women's transfer window summer 2020:

Stay up-to date with all the latest transfers within the Women’s Super League. We provide details on Women's transfer window summer 2020.

The UK Women's transfer window summer 2020

After the UK’s final exit from the European Union (Brexit) at the end of this year, there will be further restrictions on the recruitment of foreign players. According to new rules, only the top talents are expected to be granted a work permit.

However, the 2020 UK Summer Transfer Window for Women’s Football has produced some startling results.

It has been reported that before all WSL matches, there will be a minute’s applause to show appreciation of the National Health Service in their fight against the Coronavirus, following which all the teams are set to take a knee to show solidarity for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.

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Women's transfer news summer 2020 was highlighted by Pernille Harder’s move to

that made her the world’s most expensive female player, but that announcement was subtle like a line, hidden on Wolfsburg’s website that read more like an apology that their brightest talent was leaving.

“Taking into account that we are talking about a record transfer fee in women’s football, this is one – for everyone involved – acceptable solution,” Ralf Kellermann, Wolfsburg women’s sporting director, said.

Even if social distancing has prevented a blockade of fans lining Stamford Bridge to glimpse her, Harder is perhaps the best signing of a summer that has also brought the return of three-time Champions League winner Lucy Bronze and four US World Cup winners joining the two Manchester clubs.

But the question is why so little noise from Wolfsburg and Chelsea about the fee? Critics of men’s football routinely cite the obsession with finances as grounds for disillusionment.

Estimated to be £250,000-£300,000, Harder’s fee demonstrates how little money is needed to compete in the women’s game.

Speculation over fees marks a tonal shift for women’s football, but is it indicative of a drastic change? How long before the world’s best players routinely fetch fees in the millions?

“It’s hard to give an average transfer fee,” an agent said. “There’s not many transfer fees in the Women’s Super League and not many clubs could afford transfer fees into the tens of thousands.

They’d rather invest that into youth, into the existing playing squad or wait for contracts to expire. Even Bronze was a free agent. You could move players for a couple of thousand but you are seeing, at the top end, six-figure transfer fees. I don’t think we’re seeing a clear pattern.”

The recent activity of the big four clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea and the Manchester sides – has broadened the financial chasm in the WSL.

Coronavirus presents a growth opportunity for the English league in that it has encouraged American players to join to fill their otherwise empty schedules: even clubs that cannot compete financially, one agent said, can offer the attraction of matches against the sport’s biggest names.

The league, more broadly, must exploit its top players commercially this year more than any other. Clubs shall now decide whether they are to grow slowly, becoming self-sustaining, or chase after the big four.

“I’ve only had one player move for a fee,” another agent said. “I don’t see them becoming commonplace, just because there’s so little money in women’s football.

When I’m talking to clubs, some say, ‘We’re only looking at free agents, so can you let us know clients that are free this summer?’ If I say players are under contract that puts them off – so many players are free each summer that there isn’t the need to pay fees. As it stands, some teams are struggling to pay decent salaries, even without fees.

“Chelsea have spent a lot of money and they’ve got to protect it. That makes them invest more – in longer contracts – but no other clubs can afford the fees to take players away apart from your elite.

If that became the norm, I could see clubs pulling out of or not even investing in the women’s game. It’s almost on a knife-edge now.”

At the very least, the game is at a juncture. To its left is the world of one- and two-year deals that have been the norm for so many seasons.

“A lot of players still don’t sign multi-year contracts as often as the men – but partly because it suits them,” the first agent said. “Because the game’s evolving, players are probably wise not to commit to a three-year contract that could devalue them in two years’ time.”

Summer's high-profile WSL arrivals

Everton, beneficiaries of recent investment, look the most likely to bridge the equal pay gap and other clubs have recruited wisely despite their financial constraints.

Lucy Bronze (Man City)

Arguably England’s best player, Bronze is considered the best right back in the women’s game and comes fresh from winning the Champions League for a third time in succession with Lyon. Her signing is among the Women's top moves summer 2020.

The England star is back in the Women's Super League after three years in France, where she won an incredible nine trophies. Bronze has returned to Manchester City, signing from Lyon on a two-year deal.

The England full-back left City back in 2017 to join the French giants, going on to win nine trophies in her three years there. This season, Bronze helped the club achieve yet another European treble, starring in the 3-1 win over Wolfsburg in the Women's Champions League final.

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The 28-year-old Bronze is currently back in Manchester, the club where she won the Women's Super League, the Continental Cup, and the FA Women's Cup between 2014 and 2017.

“I’m really happy to be back here at City – I always had it in my mind that I would return one day, and it just feels like the perfect time and opportunity right now," she said.

“I really enjoyed my time in France, but there were so many things that I missed and it’s great to be back.

“I feel like I’m returning as a better leader and person, who is capable of bringing similar success to the table here in England – both domestically with City and internationally too.

“Having already experienced everything that City have to offer as a club, it was a no-brainer for me when the offer came in and there isn’t another team in England that I would have looked at.

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than with Manchester City and I’m really excited to see what the future holds with the exciting squad we have here.”

Steph Catley (Arsenal)

Women's transfer news summer 2020 included the 26-year-old Steph Catley who is closing in on a century of Australia caps. She has amassed over 200 career appearances. An agile full back, she is disciplined going forward and joins a fluid, attacking team.

Catley’s arrival from Melbourne City was one of the most exciting captures of an eventful

Women's transfer window summer 2020

.

Catley said, “This is something that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.

is a place where I’ve imagined myself playing for a long time too.

“Arsenal is a place where I’ve imagined myself playing for a long time. I’m so excited that it’s finally done. This will be my first taste of European football and obviously there’s so much to look forward to and so many big occasions to come. I can’t wait to get started.”

Arsenal’s Australian manager, Joe Montemurro, said, “We’re privileged to have Steph at the club. She suits our fluidity and she’s very good in a positional sense, but more importantly she’s very effective going forwards, so we’re excited to have her as part of the squad and we’re looking forward to some exciting times together.”

Tobin Heath (Manchester United)

As one of the best dribblers in the game, Heath is a wonderfully gifted player who is tricky and impossible to stop.

Heath joined Manchester United on a contract until the end of the 2020/21 season, subject to obtaining a work permit.

The 32-year-old has spent the past seven seasons with National Women’s Soccer League side, Portland Thorns.

Having spent the majority of her playing career in America, she also had two spells in Europe with Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 and 2014.

Heath is an experienced international player and has been capped by the USA national team 168 times. Her many honors with USA include two World Cups and two Olympic Gold medals. She was also shortlisted for the 2019 Women’s Ballon D’or.

Heath said on her transfer, “Manchester United is an exceptional club and I’m thrilled to be joining them. I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing in England, playing with and against some of the best players in the world. I have big ambitions for this season and can’t wait to get on the pitch with my new team and start this next chapter.”

Pernille Harder (Chelsea)

Pernille Harder’s joining Chelsea is also among the Women's top moves summer 2020. The 2018 Ballon D’or nominee is a prolific finisher - 103 goals in 113 Wolfsburg matches - but her off-ball movement will also trouble defenses.

To its right are the elite. “The amount of ‘big’ teams has increased the competition for top players,” one WSL manager said. “More competition means teams are no longer willing to gamble and wait for contracts to run down. Do you wait and have lots of teams compete, or bite the bullet and do the deal now? I think that’s what Chelsea have done with Harder. Think of the competition they’d have had in a year from the likes of United and Barcelona. It will force clubs to make contracts longer, so they can cash in.”

That women’s teams are growing more integrated with men’s clubs is also bumping up fees. “We approached a player recently and were told about £40,000 would do it,” the manager said. “Although that figure was one and a half players for the women’s team, it’s nothing in the men’s game. Then the person at the top of the club, who’s looking after the men’s side, said, ‘We’re not going to let her go for that.’ We’ve knocked back bids for players and our club has said, ‘There’s no way you’re accepting that money.’

“It’s quite muddy waters because the money is still insignificant in the bigger picture, although I think the bar’s been set – for a top player – with Harder. I don’t think you’ll get a player you’d consider as among the top 25 in the world for less than £100-200k. Your top three or four clubs in every country will probably be expecting to pay upwards of that, and top players are commanding six-figure salaries. But it will be a while before [the number of] transfer fees outweigh six-figure salaries. There’s hundreds of six-figure contracts out there, and half a dozen transfer fees.”

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Alex Morgan (Tottenham)

Among

Women's top moves summer 2020

is the US forward,

. She became the fifth member of USA's World Cup-winning side to join the WSL after Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle, Tobin Heath, and Christen Press.

USA World Cup winner Alex Morgan has joined

Women from Orlando Pride for the 2020/21 WSL season.

The move comes as the 31-year-old tries to gain much-needed game time following the birth of her daughter Charlie in May and ahead of the delayed Tokyo Olympics next summer.

Although Orlando Pride, who compete in the National Women's Soccer League, will take part in the NWSL Fall Series, the mini-tournament would have only provided four competitive fixtures for the forward.

A double World Cup winner in 2015 and 2019, Morgan has also lifted two CONCACAF Women's Championships as well as the SheBelieves Cup in 2016 and 2018 during an illustrious career.

Viewed as one of the most influential female footballers, Morgan has scored a total of 107 times in 169 appearances since her US debut in 2010.

The 2019 World Cup silver ball winner, is also remembered for pretending to sip tea as she celebrated scoring a header in the USA's 2-1 semi-final win over England last summer.

Also named in the FIFPro World XI in 2016, 2017 and 2019, this is not Morgan's first spell in Europe, having spent a year on loan at French side Lyon in 2017 where she picked up a league title, the French Cup and a Champions League winner's medal in the process.

Women's transfer news summer 2020

was highlighted by the USA World Cup winner Alex Morgan who has joined Tottenham Women from Orlando Pride for the 2020/21 WSL season.

The move comes as the 31-year-old tries to gain much-needed game time following the birth of her daughter Charlie in May and ahead of the delayed Tokyo Olympics next summer.

And although Orlando Pride, who compete in the National Women's Soccer League, will take part in the NWSL Fall Series, the mini-tournament would have only provided four competitive fixtures for the forward.

A double World Cup winner in 2015 and 2019, Alex Morgan has also lifted two CONCACAF Women's Championships as well as the SheBelieves Cup in 2016 and 2018 during an illustrious career.

Viewed as one of the most influential female footballers, Morgan has scored a total of 107 times in 169 appearances since her US debut in 2010.

The 2019 World Cup silver ball winner, is also remembered for pretending to sip tea as she celebrated scoring a header in the USA's 2-1 semi-final win over England last summer.

Morgan pretended to sip tea after scoring against England during last summer's World Cup

Also named in the FIFPro World XI in 2016, 2017 and 2019, this is not Morgan's first spell in Europe, having spent a year on loan at French side Lyon in 2017 where she picked up a league title, the French Cup and a Champions League winner's medal in the process.

Double World Cup-winner Alex Morgan signing for Spurs Women will boost the club, WSL and its players, says Brighton defender Fern Whelan

Morgan is already familiar with Tottenham's facilities having spent time there during a pre-World Cup training camp last year while two former Orlando Pride team-mates, Alanna Kennedy and Shelina Zadorsky, have also joined the club over the past few weeks.

The forward is also the fifth member of the USA's World Cup-winning squad to join the WSL this summer after Manchester City signed Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle, while Tobin Heath and Christen Press joined Manchester United.

As the women's transfer window closed, the Women's Super League and its clubs will be delighted with the business done over the last few months.

A number of star names have arrived on English shores since June 19, as well as some key signings from within the league, as the WSL gets back up and running after the cancellation of the 2019/20 season due to coronavirus.

After one of the most successful windows for the women's league, from Lucy Bronze to Pernille Harder, we take a look at some of the talented players you will be hearing about this season.

Women's transfer window summer 2020

The following list includes all the Ins and Outs at Every Club.

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Chelsea

Chelsea won the 2019/20 title on points per game following the season being abandoned. They have added quality to their squad, probably with an eye on their return to the Women's Champions League and the extra demands it brings.

In:

• Melanie Leupolz (MF) - Bayern Munich

• Niamh Charles (FW) - Liverpool

• Jessie Fleming (MF) - UCLA

• Pernille Harder (FW) - Wolfsburg

Out:

• Adelina Engman (FW) - Montpellier

• Deanna Cooper (DF) - Reading

• Anita Asante (DF) - Aston Villa

• Ramona Bachmann (FW) - Paris Saint-Germain

• Jamie-Lee Napier (DF) - Birmingham (loan)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham are looking to consolidate their place in the WSL after successfully managing the transition to a professional top flight club last season and have trumped every signing in the summer market by landing USWNT superstar Alex Morgan.

In:

• Kerys Harrop (DF) - Birmingham

• Rachel Williams (FW) - Birmingham

• Aurora Mikalsen (GK) - Manchester United

• Alanna Kennedy (DF) - Orlando Pride (loan)

• Shelina Zadorsky (DF) - Orlando Pride (loan)

• Alex Morgan (FW) - Orlando Pride

Out:

• Sophie McLean (MF) - London Bees

• Chloe Morgan (GK) - Crystal Palace

• Coral-Jade Haines (MF) - Crystal Palace

• Megan Wynne (MF) - Bristol City

• Jenna Schillaci (DF) – retired

Arsenal

Following on from the January capture of Caitlin Foord, there is a distinct Australian theme to Arsenal's summer recruitment as they try and take the title back from Chelsea.

Steph Catley and Lydia Williams were both teammates of Foord in last summer's World Cup squad.

In:

• Steph Catley (DF) - Melbourne City

• Malin Gut (MF) - Grasshopper

• Lydia Williams (GK) - Melbourne City

• Noelle Maritz (DF) - Wolfsburg

• Lotte Mubben-Woy (DF) - University of North Carolina

Out:

• Louise Quinn (DF) - Fiorentina

• Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (GK) - Atletico Madrid

• Katrina Veje (MF) - Rosengard

• Danielle Carter (FW) - Reading

• Emma Mitchell (DF) - Reading

• Ruby Grant (MF) - West Ham

• Melissa Filis (MF) - London Bees

Manchester United

Manchester United enjoyed an impressive debut season in the WSL following their 2019 promotion. USWNT forwards Tobin Heath and Christen Press are the biggest summer signings anywhere in the league.

In:

• Carrie Jones (MF) - Cardiff

• Lucy Staniforth (MF) - Birmingham

• Ona Batlle (DF) - Levante

• Ivana Fuso (FW) - Basel

• Tobin Heath (FW) - Portland Thorns

• Christen Press (FW) - Utah Royals

• Alessia Russo (MF) - University of North Carolina

Out:

• Aurora Mikalsen (GK) - Tottenham

• Charlotte Newsham (DF) - Blackburn

• Aimee Palmer (MF) - Bristol City

• Lizzie Arnot (FW) - Rangers

• Siobhan Chamberlain (GK) - retired

• Fran Bentley (GK) - Blackburn (loan)

• Mollie Green (MF) – Birmingham

Manchester City

Manchester City were actually ahead of Chelsea before the 2019/20 season was abandoned and the title went to west London on points per game, which motivated City, who are under new manager Gareth Taylor to work harder in 2020/21.

In:

• Chloe Kelly (FW) - Everton

• Sam Mewis (MF) - North Carolina Courage

• Rose Lavelle (MF) - OL Reign

• Lucy Bronze (DF) - Lyon

• Alex Greenwood (DF) - Lyon

 Out:

• Tessa Wullaert (FW) - Anderlecht

• Pauline Bremer (FW) - Wolfsburg

• Lee Geum-min (FW) - Brighton (loan)

• Matilde Fidalgo (DF) - Benfica

• Emma Bissell (FW) - Bristol City

West Ham United

In:

• MacKenzie Arnold (GK) - Brisbane Roar

• Maz Pacheco (DF) - Reading

• Katerina Svitkova (MF) - Slavia Prague

• Hawa Cissoko (DF) - ASJ Soyaux

• Nor Mustafa (FW) - Eskilstuna United

• Ruby Grant (MF) - Arsenal

• Emily van Egmond (MF) - Orlando Pride (loan)

• Rachel Daly (FW) - Houston Dash (loan)

Out:

• Katharina Baunach (DF) - retired

• Anna Moorhouse (GK) - Bordeaux

• Tessel Middag (MF) - Fiorentina

• Esmee de Graaf (MF) - Leicester

• Vyan Sampson (DF) - released

• Ruesha Littlejohn (FW) - Leicester

• Olivia Smith (DF) - London Bees

• Julia Simic (MF) - AC Milan

• Filippa Wallen (DF) - Apollon Limassol

• Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (FW) – Napoli

Reading FC

In:

• Emma Mitchell (DF) - Arsenal

• Danielle Carter (FW) - Arsenal

• Deanna Cooper (DF) - Chelsea

• Erin Nayler (GK) - Bordeaux

• Jess Fishlock (MF) - OL Reign (loan)

• Jeon Ga-eul (FW) - Bristol City 

Out:

• Jade Moore (MF) - Orlando Pride

• Rachael Laws (GK) - Liverpool

• Maz Pacheco (DF) - West Ham

• Jo Potter (DF) - released

• Sophie Howard (DF) - Leicester

• Remi Allen (MF) - Leicester

• Charlie Estcourt (MF) - London Bees

• Millie Farrow (FW) - Leicester

• Maxime Bennink (FW) - PEC Zwolle

• Lisa-Marie Karlseng Utland (FW) – Rosenborg

Everton

In:

• Poppy Pattinson (MF) - Bristol City

• Ingrid Moe Wold (DF) - Madrid CFF

• Nicoline Sorensen (FW) - Brondby

• Rikke Sevecke (DF) - Fleury 91

• Valerie Gauvin (FW) - Montpellier

• Claire Emslie (FW) - Orlando Pride (loan)

• Damaris Egurrola (MF) - Athletic Bilbao 

Out:

• Inessa Kaagman (MF) - Brighton

• Hannah Cain (FW) - Leicester

• Kirstie Levell (GK) - Leicester

• Taylor Hinds (DF) - Liverpool

• Chloe Kelly (FW) - Manchester City

• Emma Doyle (MF) - Blackburn

• Georgia Brougham (DF) - Birmingham (loan)

• Hannah Coan (DF) - Sheffield United (loan)

• Elise Hughes (FW) - Blackburn (loan)

• Kika van Es (DF) – Twente

Bristol City

In:

• Ella Mastrantonio (MF) - Western Sydney Wanderers

• Aimee Palmer (MF) - Manchester United

• Megan Wynne (MF) - Tottenham

• Jemma Purfield (DF) - Liverpool

• Emma Bissell (FW) - Manchester City

• Benedicte Haaland (GK) - Lugano

• Laura Rafferty (DF) - Brighton (loan)

Out:

• Poppy Pattinson (MF) - Everton

• Olivia Chance (MF) - released

• Katie Robinson (MF) - Brighton

• Eartha Cummings (GK) - Charlton

• Jeon Ga-eul (FW) - Reading

• Frankie Brown (DF) - released

• Loren Dykes (DF) - Cardiff

Brighton & Hove Albion

In:

• Katie Startup (GK) - Charlton

• Katie Robinson (MF) - Bristol City

• Nora Heroum (MF) - AC Milan

• Inessa Kaagman (MF) - Everton

• Lee Geum-min (FW) - Manchester City (loan)

• Rebekah Stott (DF) - Melbourne City

• Denise O'Sullivan (FW) - North Carolina Courage (loan)

Out:

• Lea Le Garrec (MF) - Fleury 91

• Katie Natkiel (MF) - Crystal Palace

• Amanda Nilden (MF) - Eskilstuna United

• Sophie Harris (GK) - Watford

• Fern Whelan (DF) - retired

• Ini Umotong (FW) - Vaxjo

• Matile Lundorf (DF) - Juventus

• Laure Hartley (GK) - Lewes (loan)

• Ellie Hack (DF) - Lewes (loan)

• Laura Rafferty (DF) - Bristol City (loan)

• Bethan Roe (DF) - Charlton (loan)

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Birmingham City

In:

• Christie Murray (MF) - Liverpool

• Rachel Corsie (DF) - Utah Royals (loan)

• Chloe McCarron (MF) - Linfield

• Jamie-Lee Napier (DF) - Chelsea (loan)

• Destiney Toussaint (MF) - unattached

• Georgia Brougham (DF) - Everton (loan)

• Mollie Green (MF) - Manchester United

Out:

• Brianna Visalli (MF) - Houston Dash

• Adrienne Jordan (DF) - OL Reign

• Freya Gregory (DF) - Aston Villa

• Abbey Jones (MF) - Aston Villa

• Olivia Rebjohn (MF) - Aston Villa

• Alexandra Brooks (GK) - Blackburn

• Chloe Arthur (MF) - Aston Villa

• Lucy Staniforth (MF) - Manchester United

• Kerys Harrop (DF) - Tottenham

• Rachel Williams (FW) – Tottenham

Aston Villa

In:

• Chloe Arthur (MF) - Birmingham

• Freya Gregory (MF) - Birmingham

• Anita Asante (DF) - Chelsea

• Diane Silva (FW) - Sporting CP

• Lisa Weiss (GK) - Lyon

• Caroline Siems (DF) - Turbine Potsdam

• Ramona Petzelberger (MF) - Essen

• Stine Larsen (FW) - Fleury 91

• Abbey Jones (MF) - Birmingham

• Olivia Rebjohn (MF) - Birmingham

Out:

• Jade Richards (DF) - Blackburn

• Kerri Welsh (FW) - released

• Alice Hassall (MF) - Coventry United

• Phoebe Warner (MF) - Coventry United

• Melissa Johnson (FW) - Sheffield United

• Charlotte Greengrass (DF) - Nottingham Forest

• Sophie Maierhofer (MF) - Duisburg

Other Women's transfer window summer 2020

The followings are some other Women's transfer window summer 2020.

Lisa Pfretzschner

Defender — Eintracht Frankfurt to RB Leipzig IIDaniela Kosinska (GK) - Stoke

 Karina Sævik

Forward — Paris St-Germain to Wolfsburg

Sura Yekka

Defender — Michigan Wolverines to Duisburg

Shanice van de Sanden

Forward — Lyon to Wolfsburg

Meaghan Nally

Defender — Portland Thorns to Turbine Potsdam

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