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

This week: two weddings and a tattoo later, this was a week high on commitment. Plus: Southampton's money troubles rear their head again, and three new shirts drop ahead of the new season.

– Jo, founder of Twentytwo

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

⚖️ Maddy Cusack's inquest has heard a first week of testimony from witnesses including her parents, her physio, and her partner and teammate Grace Riglar. Family and teammates described then-manager Jonathan Morgan commenting on Cusack's weight, dropping her from the starting line-up, and creating an environment several players found isolating; the club's physio and a former captain, however, gave a more sympathetic account of his conduct. Morgan, who denies wrongdoing, gives evidence today. Read more

🌲 Forest Green Rovers have disbanded their women's team for 2026-27 to focus resources on the men's EFL push. The women's side had just been allocated a league place for next season, having finished second in the fifth tier by a single point. Chairman Dale Vince has responded to the backlash, calling it "entirely misplaced" and blaming a late collapse in Hartpury talks over a joint team. Read more

💸 Southampton are cutting around £500k from their women's and girls' programme. Head of women's football Marieanne Spacey-Cale is set to leave, the academy drops from Category One to Category Two, and home fixtures move from St Mary's to the smaller Eastleigh Stadium. The club insists it's unrelated to the men's "Spygate" scandal. This was a budget call made in May, following a reported £1.97m loss on the women's and girls' programme for the 2024/25 season. Read more

It's been the busiest week of the summer window so far, headlined by two big Arsenal signings and Sam Kerr's move to Gotham FC finally becoming official.

Georgia Stanway's return to England was never really in doubt. She announced back in January that she'd leave Bayern Munich when her contract ran out, and Arsenal's interest has been common knowledge for months. What wasn't decided until the final stretch was where she'd land: she's said the choice came down to Arsenal and Chelsea, with her two closest friends in the game, Keira Walsh and Leah Williamson, on opposite sides of the decision. "I want to be hunted. I know they wanted me," she told the Athletic. Arsenal won out, and Stanway marked the move by getting a tattoo reading "whatever the weather," a lyric from Arsenal's matchday anthem North London Forever — a fairly committed way to announce yourself before kicking a ball.

Arsenal have also signed Germany international Selina Cerci from Hoffenheim on a free transfer, after a season in which she scored 16 goals and set up nine more, the best combined return in the Bundesliga.

→ Aston Villa: Three in: Denmark forward Amalie Vangsgaard from Juventus, Norway youth international Kamilla Melgård from Madrid CFF, and midfielder Justine Kielland from Wolfsburg, who helped Brann reach the Champions League quarter-finals, subject to visa approval.

→ Brighton: Former Arsenal midfielder, Lia Wälti returns to the WSL from Juventus on a two-year deal. It's a savvy signing that could push Brighton toward a top-five finish. Nadine Noordam has left to rejoin Ajax after a year and a half, having scored the goal that sent Brighton to an FA Cup semi-final and led the WSL squad with five assists last season. Brighton have also signed goalkeeper Eleanor Heeps from Tottenham.

→ Chelsea: Sam Kerr's move to Gotham FC is now confirmed after weeks of expectation, closing out six and a half years at the club in which she broke Fran Kirby's Chelsea WSL scoring record outright and finished level with her on 116 goals in all competitions. Chelsea have also signed Manaka Matsukubo, the reigning NWSL Midfielder of the Year, from North Carolina Courage. Lucy Bronze has signed a new contract and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has left for Lyon.

→ Crystal Palace: Sierra Enge joins from Strasbourg as the newly-promoted club's first signing of the summer, having previously won the NWSL Challenge Cup with San Diego Wave.

→ Everton: Six players leave on expired contracts. Toni Payne, who set up the winning goal in Everton's record victory over Chelsea last season, departs without a club. Katja Snoeijs joins Ajax, Kenzie Weir, who earned her first Scotland call-up this year, also departs, and Emily Ramsey, Melissa Lawley and Elise Stenevik round out the list. Laila Harbert returns to Arsenal after her loan.

→ Liverpool: Mari Ward joins from Bristol City as the club's third signing of the summer.

→ London City Lionesses: Nicole Anyomi joins free from Eintracht Frankfurt after scoring 21 goals last season, Janni Thomsen arrives from Utah Royals, and Sophie Hillyerd re-signs after a loan at Watford.

→ Manchester United: Andrea Medina joins free from Atletico Madrid, and Hannah Blundell departs after five years at the club. United's academy had a big day too: Layla Drury, who became the club's youngest ever player and goalscorer back in January aged 16, has signed until 2029, with fellow graduates Scarlett Hill and Jess Anderson also turning professional.

→ Tottenham Hotspur: Selma Panengstuen joins from SK Brann, where she kept 18 clean sheets in 27 games last season as the club won its first ever league title. Ho called her "a goalkeeper with outstanding potential". 

Everton x Castore: 2026/27 home shirt
Everton’s new home shirt feels very safe — and not in a good way. It’s essentially a plain blue shirt, with the yellow accents doing nowhere near enough heavy lifting to rescue it. Maybe the pro version’s texture gives it a bit more life up close, but from here this one isn’t winning many hearts. Available now

West Ham x New balance: 2026/27 home shirt
New Balance’s first West Ham home shirt is a strong opener. The patterned trim on the sleeves and collar gives it a nice lift, while the subtle detailing through the body adds texture without overcomplicating things. A fresh take on a classic home kit. Available now

Barcelona x Nike: 2026/27 home shirt
Barça have set out to prove less isn’t always more with another fresh take on one of football’s most unmistakable shirts. More stripes, more tones and, somehow, more polish. It feels sharper and less fussy than some of their recent efforts, and we’re big fans. Available now

WSL wedding season is in full swing: Congratulations to Ella Toone and Melvine Malard who both got married to their partners this week.

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