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

This week: Putellas gets close to WSL deal, a landmark pregnancy ruling, season tickets on sale, and the world's first women's football store just opened.

– Jo, founder of Twentytwo

P.S. The WSL is on its summer break — so until September, we're keeping things slim: transfers, news, and the odd thing worth your attention.

⚖️ Maja Gothberg has won a landmark ruling after football's international arbitration court found that Lazio unlawfully ended her contract because she was pregnant — the first time a club has ever been found liable for pregnancy-related contract termination. The Swedish midfielder was awarded over €69,000. Read more

🍺 WSL and WSL2 clubs can now let fans drink alcohol in view of the pitch, following an 18-month trial across 20 clubs and 190 fixtures. Participation is optional — each club decides whether to offer it and where. Read more

🏟️ Durham WFC's future is secured after South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson agreed to acquire a majority stake. The club had 21 days to find a buyer before facing closure. Founders Lee Sanders and Dawn Hepple remain as shareholders. Read more

⚽️ Gotham FC beat Kansas City Current 2-0 to win the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup — goals from Esther González and Jordynn Dudley, and the first women's professional match ever played in Ohio. Read more

→ Is Brazil ready to capitalize on what could be its 2027 Women’s World Cup moment? – The Athletic

Alexia Putellas to London City has been rumoured for weeks, and it's looking very close to done. This one is genuinely a big deal. If you don't know, Putellas is a football legend — she's won the Ballon d'Or twice, just captained Barcelona to their fourth Champions League, and is still one of the best midfielders in the world. London City are reportedly paying her more than the European champions were, which, if we're being cynical, hints at why she's chosen Bromley over the NWSL or staying in Spain.

Kang is going big, fast. Putellas, Earps, and potentially Mapi León — big names, big wages, presumably to build a big fanbase quickly. London City aren't necessarily recruiting these players with the next five to seven years in mind. Instead they’re offsetting young talent such as Freya Godfrey with experienced players who bring credibility, a winning mentality, and the kind of profiles that get fans through the door or even switching club allegiances.

Whether it translates on the pitch is the real question. They finished sixth last season, which was a solid first year WSL performance, but the gap to Arsenal, Chelsea and City is sizeable. And it's fair to wonder whether a squad built around big names necessarily clicks as a team. Spurs are quietly taking the opposite approach — steady, measured, sensible recruitment. London City are making a much louder bet.

→ Brighton: Norwegian midfielder, Emilie Joramo, has signed on a free transfer from Hammarby. Former Gooner, and current Juventus midfielder, Lia Wälti, is in advanced talks to join the Seagulls. Her medical is done and once finalised, it would be Brighton's statement signing of the summer.

→ Everton: Scott Phelan has been appointed permanent head coach after impressing in his interim spell. He took over in February when Brian Sørensen was sacked, won his first three games and guided the club to an eighth-place finish. A lifelong Evertonian who joined the club at eight years old.

→ London City: Freya Godfrey and Poppy Pattinson have both extended their contracts until 2029. Godfrey was the club's Players' Player of the Season with six goals and four assists. Pattinson made her England senior debut in March (the first London City player ever to do so) after coming back from an injury that kept her out for the first half of the season.

→ Tottenham: Victoria Pelova has joined Spurs on a free from Arsenal. The 27-year-old Dutch midfielder brings Champions League experience and, after a difficult ACL injury, Spurs think there's more to come from her.

→ West Ham: Nadine Riesen joins from Eintracht Frankfurt on a three-year deal. The Swiss full-back brings pace and attacking quality that suits the high-tempo style Guarino is building.

2026/27 season tickets are now on general sale — lock yours in before early bird windows close. Most clubs have family-friendly season tickets and match bundles, so if a full season ticket isn't your bag, you can still pick up a well-priced deal. Check your club's website for details.

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

Foudys, the world's first standalone women's football retail store, opened in Manchester last week. Founded in 2020 by Helen Hardy, it began simply — printing women's players' names on shirts from Hardy's kitchen table. Six years later, she's opened a two-floor store on Deansgate.

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