Women’s football is becoming more professional and more ‘expensive’ with each season.
The idea is that transfer fees and player wages continue increasing significantly, as the competition for the services of the top players is getting more challenging than before.
In particular, the WSL leads this wave of high transfer fees with teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and London City Lionesses trying to reinforce their squads with more top-quality players each season.
Although this significant rise of transfer fees makes the top teams succeed in bringing some of the best players to their teams, it actually makes things more complicated for WSL 2 teams for instance.
WSL 2 teams find it much more complicated to keep up with the rise of these fees, and they are obliged to resort to players available as free agents mainly, or players with average quality.
This situation is therefore beneficial for women’s football in general and for wealthier teams/players in particular, while it aggravates the situation of weaker teams.
That said, free transfers for top profiles who are experienced and confirmed as world-class players is becoming very common.
Lately, numerous big names have agreed terms with new teams for the coming seasons. Among these names we list: Alexia Putellas, Mary Earps, Mapi Leon, Beth Mead, Georgia Stanway, Geraldine Reuteler, and more to come.
Alexia Putellas And London City's Ambitious Free Transfer Strategy
One of the most remarkable deals for the WSL this summer is going to be that of Alexia Putellas’ move to London City Lionesses.
Putellas’ contract with Barcelona Women ends this summer, and the most recent reports say that she has already agreed terms with WSL side London City, according to The Guardian.
This will be one of the most important moves of this summer transfer window, as the two-time Ballon d'Or winner will be joining an ambitious London City project and help the team compete against the top WSL teams.
What makes Michele Kang’s club’s ambitions for challenging the top teams even more concrete and realistic is the fact that they are also planning to sign both Mary Earps and Mapi Leon as free agents.
If both deals go through, this will be one of the most remarkable and intelligent transfer campaigns in women’s football as the three players guarantee experience, talent, maturity, and eventually success in terms of goalkeeping (Earps), defending (Leon), and playmaking (Putellas).
Beth Mead Strengthens Manchester City's Attack
After a spell that lasted for nine years at Arsenal, Beth Mead has just joined Manchester City as a free agent following the end of her contract with the Gunners.
This signing represents a big move for City to reinforce their attacking line.
It is something that will definitely help the team guarantee more depth and quality in their attack ahead of a competitive season.
And with the renewal of Khadija Shaw’s contract, City are confirming their ambitious preparations for next season especially from an attacking perspective.
This will surely help them keep up with their direct opponents’ reinforcements and be able to challenge for the WSL and for the UEFA Women’s Champions League in a determined way.
Arsenal Respond With Georgia Stanway And Geraldine Reuteler
With the departure of Mead, Arsenal Women have also been active ahead of the summer transfer window, as they agreed terms with former Manchester City player and actual Bayern Munich’s midfielder, Georia Stanway.
Stanway’s comeback to the WSL following a successful period in the Frauen-Bundesliga represents a very promising deal that will definitely help Arsenal in challenging their rivals.
Furthermore, Arsenal’s transfer window looks very positive already, as it was also announced that Eintracht Frankfurt’s midfielder/forward, Geraldine Reuteler, will also join the team as a free agent.
The Swiss international brings a lot of experience and talent too, and will represent a valuable addition to the team whether as a central midfielder or as a winger.
Knowing that many of the WSL sides have already agreed terms with a few top-tier players already, the transfer window for the coming season promises to be a very active one, with the teams trying to continue strengthening their squads by spending more money on transfer fees to get the needed players.
