Record bid to bring Kiera Walsh back to the WSL fails
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY
IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP...
Latest headlines: Women’s World Cup expansion on the cards
Fave finds: Steph Houghton in the good books
Transfer news: Arsenal bid big for Walsh. Parris leaves Man U.
Jobs: New opportunities in football
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🚨ICYMI
Top headlines
FIFA might expand the Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams to match the men’s competition. The change could come in 2031 at the earliest. Fan comments on the topic tend towards scepticism, many seeing it as a money grab by FIFA rather than a genuine attempt to bring equality to the women’s game. Fans also voiced concern about the level of football played by the teams that would fill the additional 12 spots.
Chelsea’s women’s team, which is now run separately from the men’s team, has appointed a new CEO. Ali Mandhar was previously general manager at sports media platform, The Athletic and has been given the challenge of growing the crowds as Chelsea has fallen behind rivals Arsenal.
The NWSL has broken its fan attendance record with 7 regular league games to go. Over 1.5 million fans have attended games, the previous record stood at 1.4 million.
⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH
What we’re reading
👀 FAVE FINDS
Leading from the back
Steph Houghton has joined the women’s football biography gang with her soon-to-be-release book, Leading from the Back. It charts the highs and lows of her story from the early days in the North East, all the way to her captaining Man City and the Lionesses. The pioneering player offers an insider's view of the growth of women’s football. Steph was there through it all.
The book will be released on 7 November, but you can pre-order a signed edition from Waterstones now.
✍️ INSIDE TRACK
Transfer round-up
Parris, Siren and Oroz
The WSL summer transfer window closed on Friday with a flurry of last-minute deals. The biggest news stories of the day were Nikita Paris’s move to Brighton and Barcelona’s rejection of a big-money offer from Arsenal for its star midfielder Kiera Walsh.
Rumours of talks between Arsenal and Barcelona have been circulating since June, and Walsh recently confirmed she would not seek an extension to her contract which ends next summer. It was thought Barcelona would try to recoup some cash rather than let her go for free in a year. Despite all the speculation, the Spanish champions rejected Arsenal’s world-record offer of £930,000, with their manager Pere Romeu saying there was no chance Walsh would leave because she’s still a key player in his plans for the new season.
Meanwhile, the speculation surrounding Parris’s future at Manchester United ended as a deal was struck with Brighton. It seemed unlikely the forward would stay at the club following offers from the NWSL last season.
CONFIRMED TRANSFERS
Nikita Parris | Right Winger | Manchester United → Brighton
Oona Siren | Midfielder | Contract to 2026 | LSK Kvinner → West Ham
Sofia Jakobsson | Right Winger | Contract to 2026 | San Diego Wave → London City Lionesses
Katie Stengel | Forward | Contract to 2026 | NY Gotham → Crystal Palace
María Pérez | Defensive Midfielder | Conteact to ?? | Barcelona → London City Lionesses
Veerle Buurlman | Defender | Contract to 2028 | PSV → Chelsea | Loaned back to PSV for 2024/25 Season
Maite Oroz | Attacking Midfielder | Contract to 2028 | Real Madrid → Tottenham Hotspur
Magou Doucouré | Right Back | contract to 2025 | OSC Lille → FC Bayern
Michelle Agyemange | Forward | Loan 2024/25 Season | Arsenal → Brighton
Poppy Pritchard | Forward | Loan 2024/25 season | Manchester City → Crystal Palace
Lilly Woodham | Left Back | Loan to January | Reign → Crystal Palace
Li Mengwen | Right Back | Loan 2024/25 Season | Brighton → West Ham United
CONTRACT RENEWALS
Hannah Blundell has announced her pregnancy. Manchester United triggered a clause in her contract to extend her contract for a year so she can access maternity benefits.
Niamh Fahey | CB | New Contract | Liverpool
MANAGER MOVES
Tommy Stroot has extended his contract as head coach at Wolfsburg until 2027 after initial reports he would leave in May.
🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA
Upcoming events
Baller FC is back with WSL and Champions League screenings.
Join them at The Volley, Old Street, EC1V 9NR
Wednesday 18 September
18:45 - Paris FC vs Man City
19:00 - BK Hacken vs Arsenal
Friday 20 September
The WSL season opener:
Chelsea vs Aston Villa - from 6pm
Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up
📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST
What we’re watching
U20 Women’s World Cup
Semi-Finals
Wednesday 18 September
22:30 - USA U20 vs North Korea U20 [FIFA+]
Thursday 19th September 2024
02:00 - Japan U20 vs Netherlands U20 [FIFA+]
Third Place Play-Off
Saturday 21st September 2024
22:00 - Teams TBC [FIFA+]
Final
Sunday 22nd September 2024
22:00 - Teams TBC [FIFA+]
Women’s Champion’s League
Wednesday 18 September
18:45 - Paris FC vs Man City [DAZN]
19:00 - BK Hacken vs Arsenal [DAZN]
Women’s Super League - 2024/25 season begins
Friday 20th September 2024
19:30 - Chelsea Women vs Aston Villa Women [BBC 2, BBC iPlayer]
Saturday 21st September 2024
12:00 - Manchester United vs West Ham United [MUTV, WSL Youtube]
12:30 - Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton [WSL Youtube]
Sunday 22nd September 2024
12:30 - Arsenal Women vs Manchester City Women [Sky Sports]
14:00 - Liverpool vs Leicester City [WSL Youtube]
14:00 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace [WSL Youtube]
📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
More women working in football
Paralegal | The FA | Apply by 20 September
Digital Marketing Executive | Aston Villa | Apply by 24 September
Senior Executive, Hospitality Accounts (FTC) | Liverpool FC | Apply by 24 September
Executive Assistant, FIFA World Cup 2026 | FIFA | Miami | Apply Now
Exec Asst to Snr Management Team | Wrexham FC | Apply Now
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