The five-minute read for dedicated-ish fans of women’s football.

This week: London City Lionesses eye up a stadium move, the rest of the league goes shopping, and a moment between two Spanish legends that we can't stop thinking about.

– Jo, founder of Twentytwo

P.S. We’re keeping things light-touch over the summer. Just the news, moves and our fave finds until September.

🏟️ London City Lionesses are in early-stage talks over a move to the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace Park. Nothing's agreed and it's early days with the Mayor of London's office, but the site would fix London City's biggest problem: getting people there. It's got direct links from Gatwick, London Bridge, Victoria and east London, and holds around 15,500 to Hayes Lane's 6,000. A move like this would be a gamechanger for Michelle Kang, who’s not shy about her ambitions, signing players like Putellas and Diani. Read more

🌍 The US looks set to host the 2031 World Cup, but a White House official has tied the country's cooperation to FIFA's stance on transgender athletes. Andrew Giuliani told Politico that FIFA has indicated the tournament is heading to the US, whose joint bid with Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica is the only one on the table. FIFA is yet to formally award it. Giuliani said it was important the Women's World Cup "does not violate the policy of the United States of America in that it is important that women play in the Women's World Cup and not biological men." Read more

🏆 The USA host reigning world champions Spain in two friendlies this October, in Washington DC on the 10th and Chester, Pennsylvania on the 13th. Spain go in ranked No. 1, and it's a real benchmark for both ahead of the 2027 World Cup. The US have never lost to a top-two side in 17 attempts. Read more

This week belonged to the promoted and rebuilding clubs, and London City Lionesses were the busiest of the lot. Kadidiatou Diani, 31, joins from Lyon on a three-year deal, adding a winger with a European CV to a front line that's now genuinely stacked for a club in its second WSL season. Rosa Kafaji has come the other way across the WSL, leaving Arsenal permanently for a three-year deal in south London. And captain Kosovare Asllani has extended to 2027, a loyalty call as much as a football one, with the 36-year-old still working back from the knee injury that ended her last campaign.

→ Arsenal spent on youth. Lisa Baum, the 19-year-old Germany winger, arrives from RB Leipzig for what's reported to be a club-record sale for the German side, filling the gap Beth Mead left when she joined City. Danish teenager Isabella Damm also comes in from Brøndby as one for the goalkeeping group.

→ Aston Villa added Norway centre-back Mathilde Harviken from Juventus, a 24-year-old with a Serie A title and Champions League football already behind her.

→ Birmingham City signed Manchester United duo, defender Millie Turner and midfielder Lisa Naalsund (they got engaged last month). Both join the promoted side on three-year deals, and the Blues will lean on that top-flight experience heavily.

→ Charlton took the opposite approach to their fellow newcomers. Rather than chase big names, they've kept 11 of the squad that won promotion, handing extensions to Carla Humphrey, Ellie Mason, Anna Pedersen, Lucia Lobato and Lucy Fitzgerald. Their only additions so far are midfielder Paula Partido, on a season-long loan from London City, and defender Grace Johnson.

→ Crystal Palace landed our favourite signing of the week. Bethany England joins the newly promoted side on a free from Tottenham, arriving as the second-most prolific scorer in WSL history: 89 goals, behind only Vivianne Miedema. She’s joined by England u-23 striker, Lexie Lloyd-Smith who signed a three-year contract to 2029.

→ Everton have been busy in return. Noémie Mouchon, 23, arrives on a free from relegated Leicester, Slovenia midfielder Zara Kramžar has made her loan from Roma permanent, and captain Megan Finnigan has signed a new deal to stay.

→ Liverpool signed England goalkeeper Khiara Keating on a free after her Manchester City contract expired, reuniting her with Gareth Taylor. She started just four league games behind Ayaka Yamashita last season and needs the minutes. At 22, with a World Cup year coming, this is a good place to get them.

→ West Ham did their best business at Everton's expense. France forward Kelly Gago moves across after the Hammers triggered a £500,000 release clause, Everton's biggest-ever sale of a women's player. Estelle Cascarino stays too, her loan from Juventus made permanent on a three-year deal after an impressive half-season.

Crystal Palace 2026/27 home kit — the sash is back. Palace have swapped their familiar red-and-blue stripes for a Macron shirt built around the diagonal sash, 50 years on from its first outing in 1976. White base, red-and-blue sash across the front, a retro circular crest, and new sponsor Temporal on the chest.

Our verdict: a grower.
There's a lot going on at first glance, with lines heading in every direction. But the subtle texture on the white is lovely, and the whole thing lands as properly nostalgic. Not sold at first, won round by the end (mainly by the long-sleeve version).

Available now

Manchester City midfielder Sydney Lohmann has had hip surgery and will miss the start of the season. Injuries limited her to 15 appearances in a debut year cut short after her summer move from Bayern, but she still made her mark: no City player won more WSL tackles per 90 last season. That combativeness is exactly what City will miss while she recovers. Read more

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Spain now hold the men's and women's World Cups at the same time — the first country ever to pull that off. Their men won on Sunday, and the women have been champions since 2023. Best bit though: captain Rodri taking a minute to praise Aitana Bonmatí and everything she's done.

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