Arsenal End 18-Year Wait with Champions League Glory
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY
Arsenal End 18-Year Wait with Champions League Glory
Eighteen years on from their first European crown, Arsenal Women are champions of Europe once again. In a final thick with tension and nerves – from the stands to the touchline – Renée Slegers’s side delivered a defensive masterclass to edge out Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon, ending the Catalan club’s run of dominance and silencing their fans.
Big questions were being asked of Arsenal’s back line after a leaky run-up to the final, but every single player stepped up, shutting out a Barcelona side that hadn’t failed to score in 41 matches. The breakthrough came late: Beth Mead, off the bench, threaded the perfect ball for Stina Blackstenius to finish coolly and write her name into club folklore.
Renée Slegers has masterminded a European title after just months in charge – and you get the sense this is only the beginning for her Arsenal. With Barcelona’s dominance in Europe and Chelsea’s in the WSL, women’s football has been left craving a fresh narrative; Arsenal have provided it.
All eyes will now be on North London this summer. If Arsenal can capitalise on this momentum with some smart transfers, it could be the dawn of an exciting new era.
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🚨ICYMI
Top Headlines
💸 Blackburn Rovers Women will drop out of WSL2 next season after owners called the league’s new demands “unsustainable under the current model.” The club says it can’t meet stricter requirements around full-time contracts, staffing, and facilities (think more coaches, medical support, and a fully professional set-up) without major investment. Blackburn will apply to rejoin at a lower tier, with their future league still TBC. It’s the latest sign of mounting financial pressure across the women’s football pyramid. Read more
👩💼At the other end of the spectrum, Burnley Women are going full-time professional next season, raising the bar in Lancashire. The club’s move to a full-time model signals serious ambition and a push for higher standards in the women’s game outside the top flight. Read more
🎬 Disney+ will stream every UEFA Women’s Champions League match across Europe from next season. The new broadcast deal is a sign that the women’s game is now big business for global media, but it raises questions about fan access as the UWCL moves from freeview on DAZN to life behind Disney’s paywall. Read more
💰 Bayern Munich banked £1.8m as inaugural World Sevens champions, with the new format serving up cash and chaos. The 7-a-side tournament in Estoril saw big clubs, big prize money and a party atmosphere, offering a glimpse of women’s football’s future. Read more
🇫🇷 France have dropped Renard, Le Sommer and Dali from their EURO 2025 squad in a shock cull. Hervé Renard’s decision to axe three of the team’s biggest names has stunned fans and thrown France’s tournament plans into chaos. Read more
🌊 Alex Morgan has retired and bought into San Diego Wave, swapping the pitch for the boardroom. The USWNT legend is now a minority owner at the club she helped put on the map, vowing to shape the next chapter of women’s football in California. Read more
🍿Boston Legacy is about to unveil its shiny new club crest, and we’re anticipating drama. They’re hosting a crest reveal and watch party on 7 June at Boston Common. Fans have been scathing about everything Boston Legacy has launched so far (not least its name), so we plan to get out the popcorn and watch the fan reactions start rolling in after the reveal. Watch party details here
📚 WHAT WE’RE READING
👀 FAVE FINDS
Jill Scott and Karen Carney are swapping the pitch for the podcast mic with Long Story Short.
Launching 11 June, the former Lionesses are bringing decades of friendship, 300+ England caps, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories to your headphones (think changing room chaos, green room gossip, and the bits they’d never say on TV). It’s athlete-owned, so Jill and Kaz are calling the shots, and it promises proper laughs as well as the real talk.
If you’ve ever wanted to eavesdrop on two legends catching up over coffee, this is your chance. Listen here
There’s another Chelsea baby on the way. Guro Reiten and her partner Julie Nilssen have announced they’re expecting.
✍️ INSIDE TRACK
Transfer Round-up
→ Dutch international Jill Roord departs City after a difficult season, having struggled with injury and admitting she’d lost her spark for football in Manchester. She’s headed back to the Netherlands and FC Twente as she looks for a fresh start to rediscover her joy for the game.
→ Norwegian midfielder Frida Maanum has signed a new contract with Arsenal after a standout season, tallying 13 goals and five assists and helping the Gunners to the Champions League final. “I love playing for this club,” she said, cementing her place as a North London favourite.
→ Canada’s Olympic gold medallist Vanessa Gilles has signed for Bayern Munich until 2028 after three title-winning seasons on loan at Lyon. The 29-year-old centre-back brings defensive steel, big-game experience, and a knack for scoring from the back. Bayern fans, you’ve got a serious leader incoming.
→ Germany’s Jule Brand is swapping Wolfsburg for Lyon, signing on until 2028. The 21-year-old winger brings pace, flair, and a fresh spark to a Lyon side in the midst of a major rebuild.
→ Meanwhile, Olga Carmona has left Real Madrid, Irene Paredes extended her contract at Barcelona until 2027, and Sveindís Jónsdóttir has moved from Wolfsburg to Washington Spirit.
MANAGER MOVES
→ Benfica’s title-winning coach Filipa Patão is set for a new challenge in the NWSL, taking charge of expansion side Boston Legacy after guiding Benfica to multiple league crowns.
RUMOUR HAS IT:
→ Dabritz is rumoured to be heading to Real Madrid
→ Marie Katoto has left PSG, with Lyon being the most likely destination for the forward.
👟 KIT DROP
Villa’s New Away Kit: Sharp, Clean, Quietly Classy
Villa’s new adidas away kit gets the essentials exactly right: clean black base, subtle detailing inspired by Birmingham’s Bullring across the shoulders, and the 'Villans' wordmark on the back. Understated, locally proud, just quietly classy enough to become a quick favourite.
Nike Total 90s Go Bold in Pink
Nike’s Total 90 III boots return in bright 'Pink Foam', and we’re surprisingly sold. Pink usually isn't our thing, but with their glossy finish, classic gum soles, and nostalgic details, we’re sold. It's a shame they won't drop until autumn, because they'd have been everywhere at the Euros.
🩼 ACL + INJURY UPDATES
For any NWSL fans, Alana Cook is out for the season with an extensive knee injury. She suffered a trinity of tears… ACL, MCL and meniscus. It’s a big blow not only for Kansas City Current but for the USWNT, where Cook had made a comeback under Hayes. That’s the second key defender out as they approach an international window kicking off tomorrow against the Republic of Ireland.
📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST
What We’re Watching
Your what-not-to-miss viewing guide (BST)
UEFA Women's Nations League
Friday 30 May 2025
Denmark vs Wales (18:15, BBC Two Wales, BBC iPlayer)
Northern Ireland vs Poland (19:00, BBC iPlayer)
Scotland vs Austria (19:35, BBC Alba, BBC iPlayer)
England vs Portugal (19:45, ITV4, ITVX)
📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
More Women Working in Football
Social Media Manager | Burnley Football Club | Apply by 30 May
National Development Manager - Women & Girls | The FA | Apply by 30 May
Digital Marketing Executive | London City Lionesses | Apply by 1 June
Head of Women's Team Operations | Crystal Palace FC | Apply by 8 June
Women's Regional Talent ID Coach | The FA | Apply by 13 June
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