WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY

IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP...

• In Focus: Lizbeth Ovalle: From viral scorpion kick to £1m record signing

• Latest headlines: Bronze shortlisted for Sportswomen of the CENTURY

• Fave Finds: Who doesn’t love a Goalkeeper goal

• Kit Drop: First WSL kit for London City Lionesses is a head scratcher

• Transfer news: Agyemang to Brighton

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🔍 IN FOCUS

Lizbeth Ovalle: From viral scorpion kick to £1m record signing

If Lizbeth Ovalle’s not on your radar yet, she will be soon. The Mexican winger (born 1999), scorer of that viral scorpion kick, has just joined Orlando Pride in a record £1m move. Here’s why it matters.

Who is Ovalle?

• Mexico’s Lizbeth Ovalle (La Maga) isn’t a household name yet, but she’s been tearing it up in Liga MX Femenil with 130+ goals, 100+ assists and six league titles for Tigres UANL.

• For Mexico, she’s already vital: 80+ caps, 20 goals and a gold medal at the Pan American Games.

What’s the fuss?

• Orlando Pride paid around £1.1m ($1.5m), the biggest fee in women’s football history.

• That tops Arsenal’s £1m move for Olivia Smith and follows big-money deals such as Naomi Girma to Chelsea (~£900k) and Racheal Kundananji’s £735k switch to San Francisco.

• In just two years, the women’s market has jumped from modest sums to seven figures.

Why it matters:

• Club: Pride are pushing for silverware. Ovalle brings creativity, goals and a knack for game-changing moments.

• Country: It proves Liga MX Femenil can produce talent ready to dominate globally, a big shift for Mexican players who’ve often been overlooked.

• Business: Seven-figure transfers show women’s football is becoming a serious market. Clubs and investors are starting to treat talent as long-term assets, not just short-term signings.

What’s next?
The challenge now is balancing ambition with sustainability. Outside giants like Arsenal and Chelsea, few clubs can realistically compete for £1m players without risking financial strain. That could widen the gap in leagues such as the WSL, while the NWSL, with deeper investment, may attract the world’s best talent. The big question: can revenues grow fast enough to support these deals, or is a market correction on the horizon?

🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

🏅Chelsea and Lionesses defender, Lucy Bronze, has been shortlisted for the BBC’s UK Sportswoman of the 21st Century. She's up against the likes of Nicola Adams, Kelley Holmes and Tanni Grey-Thompson. You can vote here. (Voting closes at 10:00 BST on 29th August 2025 with results revealed on 1st September.)

🚀 Manchester City have launched a new Next Gen Women’s U21 side, designed to close the gap between their Under-16s and the senior squad. The setup gives young players a platform to develop, compete, and make strides towards first-team football. It’s a smart move for City as they look to develop their homegrown talent.

✊ England defender Jess Carter has spoken candidly about her experiences with racism and the urgent need for continued efforts to tackle discrimination in football. She said she regretted not speaking out sooner in the Euros as she struggled to tried to deal with the abuse she was receiving.

💃 Karen Carney is joining the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing. The former England midfielder might be known for her sharp football brain and engaging media presence, but we can’t wait to see if she’s got some of her bestie, Jill Scott’s, moves on the dance floor.

🏆 PFA Awards took place this week, with Mariona Caldentey named Player of the Year, and Olivia Smith Young Player of the Year. Emma Hayes received a Merit Award recognising her huge impact on the game. 

🌎 The draw for the 2025-26 CONCACAF Women’s Championship qualifier groups has been made. 29 regional teams will battle it out across six groups for a place in the Championship alongside already qualified USA and Canada. The Championship will also act as the route to qualify for the 2027 World Cup 2027 and the 2028 Olympics. 

📈 San Francisco’s Bay FC broke the NWSL attendance record at Oracle Park, drawing over 19,000 fans against the Washington Spirit. 

👀 FAVE FINDS

Chicago Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher scored her first-ever NWSL goal during her 200th regular-season appearance. Following a hectic goalmouth scramble, Naeher reacted fastest and calmly slotted the ball into the net. Known for her composure under pressure and as a fearless penalty taker for the USWNT, this scrappy, no-nonsense finish was a perfect way to mark a major milestone.

✍️ INSIDE TRACK

Transfer Round-up

Brighton: Michelle Agyemang returns on loan from Arsenal following her impressive summer with England at Euro 2025, where she was named Young Player of the Tournament. The 19-year-old forward scored five goals in 22 matches for Brighton last season. Arsenal fans might be a bit disappointed she’s not going to feature in their attack, but the minutes she’ll get at Brighton will be invaluable.

West Ham: Swiss forward Leila Wandeler has joined from Lyon. She played every match for Switzerland as hosts at Euro 2025 and has been recognised for her technical skill in one-on-one situations. At just 19 years old, she has drawn attention as an emerging talent.

Aston Villa: Villa have signed Japanese striker Maya Hijikata, aged 21, from Tokyo Verdy Beleza. Hijikata helped Japan win gold at the Asian Games and has a reputation for decisive finishing.

Liverpool: Republic of Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan has extended her Liverpool contract, keeping her at the club where she has netted 23 goals over four seasons.

Crystal Palace: Nineteen-year-old Scotland international Emma Watson has joined on loan from Manchester United. A creative midfielder, Watson was previously Scotland’s Young Player of the Year at Rangers and brings vision to Palace’s midfield.

Southampton: Chelsea loanee Ashanti Akpan, 19, links up with Southampton after impressing on loan at Birmingham City last season. The central midfielder has England youth team experience and adds energy in the middle.

Newcastle United: Two-time FIFA World Cup winner Morgan Gautrat has signed for the Magpies on a short-term deal until the end of December. The experienced midfielder joins from NWSL champions Orlando Pride, where she featured in 31 games last season and helped secure the NWSL Shield and Championship.

RUMOUR HAS IT:

• Angel City’s Katie Zelem and Alana Kennedy are rumoured to be next on the substantial list of London City Lionesses summer signings.

• Cata Coll and Claudia Pina are set to sign early contract renewals, extending their time at Barcalona to 2028.

👟 KIT DROP

Chelsea have dropped their new Nike third shirt – a slick, understated dark number with a crisp white collar. Honestly, we’re 90% sold, but that collar… not sure we’re convinced. Might be a grower, though. Get yours here

Meanwhile, WSL newcomers London City Lionesses have dropped their first release with new kit partners Nike. We’ve been trying to put our finger on the vibe that LCL are going for over the last few seasons, and this latest release isn’t helping. The home shirt is fine, but it feels basic and lacks personality. The away kit is baffling – the ribbon shape had us thinking it was a charity edition shirt… but it’s not. Anyway, if you want to grab one, you can preorder here.

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What We’re Watching

Your what-not-to-miss viewing guide (BST)

WSL Countdown…
Friday 5 September

• Chelsea vs Manchester City (19:30, Sky Sports)

Saturday 6 September

• Arsenal vs London City Lionesses (13:30, BBC One, iPlayer)

Sunday 7 September

• Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa (12:00, Sky Sports)

• Liverpool vs Everton (12:00, Sky Sports)

• Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United (12:00, Sky Sports)

See you next week!

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