The 2026 winter transfer window has concluded, paving the way for the latter part of the Women’s Super League season.
For certain clubs, January provided essential investments to address weaknesses in their squads. Conversely, a lack of activity could be detrimental to the aspirations of others this season. Here’s a look at who capitalized on the window and who did not.
WINNERS
Liverpool
Liverpool urgently required reinforcements following three ACL injuries, compounded by various minor issues—at one point this season, they had as few as five outfield substitutes available—and they effectively utilized the transfer window with four significant signings. Their key acquisition, Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan, adds valuable experience as they aim to navigate a relegation battle this season.
Gareth Taylor, the former Manchester City manager, took over as Liverpool’s head coach last summer and has encountered numerous challenges at the start of his tenure. However, recent weeks have shown a positive shift in fortunes on Merseyside. Draws against London City Lionesses, Chelsea, and West Ham United, along with their winter signings, provide some optimism for the concluding phase of the WSL season.
Tottenham
Spurs bolstered their squad with the addition of four Scandinavian players over the summer. The club leveraged the regional expertise of manager Martin Ho, who previously coached Norwegian team SK Brann, and made most of their signings early in the window.
This season, Spurs have acted swiftly to refresh their squad with players aligned with Ho’s attacking tactical approach. Signe Gaupset, a highly regarded 20-year-old Norwegian midfielder, joined from Brann before the WSL window even opened. Norwegian left-back Julie Blakstad followed from Swedish club Hammarby IF shortly thereafter. Spurs also signed Hanna Wijk and Matilda Nildén from reigning Swedish champions BK Hacken.
The new additions have addressed deficiencies in midfield and attack: Spurs generate numerous chances but have struggled to convert them. The hope is that they can build on their strong first half of the season, currently placing them fifth in the WSL, tied on points with rivals Arsenal.
Scandinavian players
With leagues in Norway and Sweden still operating on a spring season (March-November) and currently in their preseason, January typically sees a high volume of movement for Scandinavians seeking new opportunities.
This transfer window, partly due to the injury crisis affecting many clubs, has witnessed an influx of players. Seven Swedish players, five Norwegians, and Denmark’s Malou Marcetto have all joined the WSL, attracted by the increased competitiveness, superior facilities, and higher wages. It is also viewed as a significant step in many players’ careers. Tottenham’s four January signings are all from Scandinavia, while two of United’s three and Arsenal’s sole signing, Smilla Holmberg, are Sweden internationals.
This move is crucial for the younger players involved, as it may enhance their European visibility and potentially solidify their positions in the national team if they are on the fringes of selection, similar to Cathinka Tanberg’s experience after her transfer to Spurs last summer. It is a mutually advantageous situation for both the players and the clubs they are joining, and many still in the early stages of their careers are adaptable to meet the immediate needs of their new teams. There is also considerable movement within the WSL once there, providing endless future prospects for players relocating to England.
play2:12Were Arsenal lucky to be crowned Champions Cup winners?
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss Arsenal’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Corinthians in the Champions Cup.
LOSERS
Leicester City
The relegation struggle thus far has involved West Ham and Liverpool, both of whom experienced winless stretches during the first half of the season, obscuring Leicester City’s challenges. However, that is no longer the case, as both those teams have made additions in January, while Leicester has fallen into a precarious position.
Leicester possesses a limited squad and struggles with consistency, a combination that has left them in 12th place, just two points ahead of Liverpool and one above West Ham. They narrowly avoided relegation last season due to their tight budget, but this year could present a different scenario.
They have acquired three WSL veterans in Rachel Williams, Ashleigh Neville, and Alisha Lehmann, along with 29-year-old Emma Jansson, but all four players are older than the profile needed to advance the team. Leicester ranks as the lowest-scoring team in the WSL this season and concludes the window still lacking a playmaker, wing creativity, and a reliable goal scorer.
Chelsea
It is unusual to consider that a club that has set the global transfer record multiple times would find themselves on the losing side of a subsequent window. However, Chelsea’s lack of activity over the past month places them in the “losers” category.
While it is not uncommon for January to be quiet for the elite clubs in the WSL—after all, Arsenal and City each made only one signing—Chelsea has identifiable gaps that remain unaddressed despite having the largest budget in England. Head coach Sonia Bompastor’s team is currently without an in-form striker. Mayra Ramírez has been sidelined since the summer, Catarina Macario will be out for several more weeks, Sam Kerr is still working her way back to form following her ACL injury, and Aggie Beever-Jones has struggled with an injury sustained during international duty and has not looked comfortable in her limited appearances.
Chelsea is also missing center back Nathalie Björn, creating a significant void in defense. They attempted to acquire midfielder Jennifer Echegini from Paris Saint-Germain but withdrew after two unsuccessful bids.
This situation would be less concerning for Chelsea if they were not perilously close to missing out on European qualification for the next season. They are currently 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City, effectively out of the title race unless a remarkable turnaround occurs. They remain in the Champions League, the FA Cup, and are in the League Cup final, but following their worst league result, a 5-1 defeat to City, since 2018, their lack of activity in the window only adds to the increasing pressure on Sonia Bompastor.
Scandinavian leagues
While this has been a favorable window for Scandinavian players moving to the WSL, likely facing improvements in pay, facilities, competition, and overall setup, the Scandinavian leagues have been depleted of talent. In recent years, the Damallsvenskan and the Toppserien have increasingly become feeder leagues for more established leagues in Europe and North America, particularly the WSL and NWSL. Due to limited resources and funding, clubs have previously acknowledged their inability to reject transfer fees that even mid-table WSL teams can offer. This situation leaves leagues in the region struggling to develop and retain their talent.
This is not a new trend: for years, Scandinavian clubs have had to rebuild almost every season following a wave of departures, but this window, while generating significant funds, will have considerable implications for the upcoming season. The region continues to produce a steady stream of young talent—this is the primary reason they have become a feeder league for wealthier European clubs—but if player exits persist at this pace, Scandinavian leagues risk facing collapse, unable to keep up with the growing demand for players.
– January transfer window: Grading big signings in women’s soccer
– Brian Sørensen leaves Everton manager role
– Are Arsenal really the world’s best women’s club?
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Manchester United
It may seem odd to exclude United from the “winners” category after they made three new signings, including Germany striker Lea Schüller and Sweden internationals Ellen Wangerheim and Hanna Lundkvist. However, significant deficiencies remain.
United has advanced to the knockout stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and faces a challenging fight to qualify for Europe next season, with their defensive options alarmingly limited, having only three first-choice center backs available. While their midfield appears well-stocked at first glance, the options are restricted to two specific profiles, resulting in a lack of balance and versatility. In goal, there is a heavy reliance on Phallon Tullis-Joyce, with minimal opportunity for rotation.
Although United’s three winter signings should aid their pursuit of a top-three finish in the WSL, the unresolved weaknesses within the squad could ultimately define their season. If these shortcomings lead to costly losses or an early exit from the Champions League, this window may be regarded as a missed opportunity rather than a success.
Arsenal
The sole permanent signing, Holmberg, provides much-needed depth at right-back, but Arsenal’s approach to this window—planning to revamp their squad this summer—does little to enhance their immediate situation.
The club is preparing for several departures of key players, some of whom have been with the team for a decade, including Katie McCabe and Beth Mead. Sources have informed ESPN that they are negotiating pre-agreements with free agents Georgia Stanway and Ona Batlle, who would join for the next season once their contracts expire. While this is a positive and necessary move, it raises questions among fans regarding the slow pace of squad evolution and does little to address the 13-point gap between Arsenal and WSL leaders City. It also does not alleviate their challenging task of defending their Champions League title amid a series of injuries.
