Ladd to Everton | James Starts for Chelsea | Stoney Takes on Canada

January 13, 2025

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY
IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP...

  • Picks from the pitch: FA Cup Fourth Round

  • Latest headlines: Casey Stoney takes new head coach role

  • Inside track: Latest January transfers

  • Kit drop: Varsity jackets, blockbuster boots, and a 150th-anniversary jersey

  • What we’re watching: The WSL is finally back!

  • Jobs: Our pick of this week’s jobs in football

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⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

Our top five moments from this week’s FA Cup action

  1. Toone was straight back amongst the goals on her comeback from injury, scoring United’s fourth goal against West Brom

  2. Rachel Williams nabbed a hattrick of headers for United. We’ve gone with her signature power header. That’s four FA Cup goals this season

  3. Mira Ramirez converted Lucy Bronze’s cross to break the deadlock

  4. A cool, calm, classic Miedema finish marked her return from injury

  5. Isobel Goodwin was clinical, slotting home a lovely little backheeled assist from Asllani for London City Lionesses

SELECTED RESULTS:
Adobe Women's FA Cup Fourth Round
🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

🇨🇦 Casey Stoney has agreed terms to become the new head coach of Canada’s Women’s National Team. She’s taken her time to find the right role following her sacking from San Diego Wave, a move that was heavily criticised by fans at the time. It’ll be interesting to see how she resets Canada following the drama of Dronegate!

🧤Carly Nelson, a former Utah Royals goalkeeper took to social media on Friday to reflect on her time there, alleging she was subject to ‘relentless toxicity’ and suffered emotional and psychological abuse while at the club. 

☘️ After 17 years and 115 caps, Ireland (and Liverpool) defender Niamh Fahey has announced her retirement from international football. 

🍻Championship clubs, Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle and Southampton have been selected to take part in a trial allowing fans to drink alcohol in the stands. The trial was announced last year and will allow the new league officials, WPLL, to explore whether consumption of alcohol could offer a way to enhance the women’s football matchday experience. It’s widely thought the audience is different enough to men’s football to be able to cope with drinking in the stands and still behave themselves. Let’s see!

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

Stories we enjoyed this week

💬 FAVE FINDS

Behind the scenes at Chelsea’s winter camp

Check out Chelsea on tour - a bit of fun from the Chelsea media team.

💬 QUOTES

“If it isn’t broken, break it. Comfort is the death of teams.”

Emma Hayes
United Soccer Coaches Convention, Jan 2025

✍️ INSIDE TRACK

Hayley Ladd leaves Man Utd in search of minutes

Hayley Ladd was a popular player among Manchester United fans, but with Wales qualifying for the Euros this summer she needed guaranteed minutes at club level, something she wasn’t getting at United. Inevitably it meant a move, and Everton has bagged a solid defensive midfielder to help them navigate their way to the end of the season amind a tight WSL mid-table. The move has left United fans frustrated at what they see as another example of Mark Skinner’s poor player management.

Here’s a quick recap of this week’s transfers…

Chelsea
Aniek Nouwen (Centre Back) - new contract to 2026
Guro Reiten (Left Wing) - contract extension triggered until 2026
Louna Ribadeira (Forward) - Loan at Paris FC ended

Everton
Emma Watson (Midfielder) - Manchester United to Everton on loan
Hayley Ladd (Defensive Midfielder) - Manchester United to Everton, contract to 2026

Liverpool
Júlia Bartel (Centre Mid) - Chelsea to Liverpool FC on loan
Samantha Kerr (Centre Mid) - Bayern Munich to Liverpool on loan

Manchester United
Grace Clinton (Centre Mid) - contract extension triggered until 2026
Kayla Rendell (Goalkeeper) - Southampton to Manchester United, contract to 2027

ELSEWHERE…

  • Marta (Attacking Midfield) - new contract with Orlando Pride until 2026

  • Ana María Guzmán (Right Back) - Bayern Munich to Utah Royals on loan

  • It's official, Jonas Eidevall is the next head coach of San Diego Wave. 

  • Jaedyn Shaw is rumoured to be leaving San Diego Wave for NC Courage, and the deal might be the biggest in NWSL history.

👟 KIT DROP

Puma’s first-ever Portugal strips landed this week. The women’s home kit includes a custom collar and mint highlights and the away kit takes the mint theme and runs with it. Now available from Puma.

Liverpool is getting in on the varsity jacket game with its final Over The Pitch collab. The South Korean brand partnership is part of Liverpool's strategy to grow its Asian fanbase. Despite the attempt to celebrate culture and fashion in football, something feels a bit clunky about this one, there’s a lot going on but in a very repetitive kind of way. Available now.

Adidas and Nike have wasted no time with new boot releases for 2025. First up, Adidas with their big Predator 25 reveal. England’s fave Alessia Russo heads up the campaign. Get yours here

Meanwhile, Nike has gone big and bright with its ‘Mad Energy’ pack. The mint and red colourways would go really well with a Portgual strip… if only Puma hadn’t just taken over the contract. Available now

You might have spotted this one over the weekend, but Mitre has released the Adobe Women’s FA Cup ‘Winners ball’. It was awarded to current cup holders, Man Utd and they played with it in their fourth-round game against West Brom. 

Aston Villa has marked its 150th anniversary with a jersey inspired by the club’s heritage. Villa was the first team in the UK to feature a crest on their shirt. This jersey celebrates the original with a specially recreated badge. Get the full collection here.

🩼 ACL WATCH + INJURY UPDATES

James and Miedema head straight back into the action

  • Lauren James is finally back! She’s been out since October with a calf injury and made the starting line-up for Chelsea’s FA Cup match against Charlton Athletic at the weekend. It’s a relief for England as they start final preparations for Euro 2025 and their title defence. With both Hemp and James out with injury, they’ve looked a little starved of creativity up-front.

  • Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who has also been sidelined with a calf injury, is close to being back in the Chelsea squad.

  • Over at Manchester City, Vivianne Miedema marked her return at the weekend with a goal. She’s been out with knee problems since October.

🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA

Upcoming events

Baller FC x Camden Town Brewery
Sunday 19 January, Camden Brewery, NW5 3ED
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace, 14:00 KO
Man City vs Man Utd, 18.45 KO
More info here

Tickets for Arsenal’s final Emirates game of the season against Man Utd go on sale from 2pm, Tuesday 28 January. The early bird window is open to anyone with a free ticketing account. The general sale opens on 11 February.  More info here

Subway Women’s League Cup Final
15 March 2025, Pride Park, Derby, 12.15KO
Early Bird tickets are now available, adults £10, Kids £5

Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up.

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What We’re Watching

The WSL is finally back after what feels like the longest winter break in history. Some big matches are coming up… Bottom-of-the-table, Crystal Palace, will be looking to nick some points off Arsenal. Mid-table goes head-to-head with Aston Villa and Everton battling it out to put some space between them and the drop zone, and finally, we have the Manchester derby to round things off.

Friday 17th January
19:00 - Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion [Sky Sports]

Saturday 18th January
17:30 - Everton vs Aston Villa [WSL YouTube]

Sunday 19th January
12:30 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City [BBC iPlayer]
14:00 - Arsenal vs Crystal Palace [WSL YouTube]
15:00 - West Ham United vs Chelsea [WSL YouTube]
18:45 - Manchester City vs Manchester United [Sky Sports ]

📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More Women Working in Football

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