January transfer window: Rate each Women's Super League club's business

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Blindkilde Brown, Mayra Ramirez and Kristie MewisImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Chelsea signed Colombia striker Mayra Ramirez (centre) for a British record fee

The Women's Super League transfer window has closed until the summer - but which clubs did the best business?

Eight new signings were confirmed on deadline day before the 23:00 GMT deadline, with Manchester City making three of those.

BBC Sport assesses each permanent move made by the 12 WSL clubs in January - plus have your say on all the ins and outs.

Arsenal

Ins

  • Emily Fox

  • Sarah Bouhaddi

Outs

  • Noelle Maritz

Arsenal's transfer window was quiet but has gone to plan. They wanted a goalkeeper as short-term cover while Sabrina D'Angelo is at the Gold Cup with Canada and they have achieved that by bringing in the experienced Sarah Bouhaddi.

Their marquee signing was the USA's Emily Fox and she will help them maintain a WSL title challenge.

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Aston Villa

Ins

  • Noelle Maritz

Outs

  • Laura Blindkilde Brown

It's been a difficult season for Villa so far but the second half might be even harder. Having already lost some key players to injury, Villa will be lighter in midfield after Manchester City secured the £200,000 signing of youngster Laura Blindkilde Brown. That came after Olivia McLoughlin was allowed to leave for Rangers on loan.

They were able to bring in full-back Noelle Maritz from Arsenal, a good recruit, but it is not enough.

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Brighton

Ins

  • Melina Loeck

  • Taylor Smith

Outs

  • Mackenzie Hawkesby

Brighton made 11 signings in the summer so were always going to be quiet during this window but they still added a goalkeeper in Melina Loeck to cover the loss of injured loanee Nicky Evrard. They wanted one or two more in - and did sign forward Taylor Smith on loan from Gotham FC right on the deadline - but their squad was already in reasonably good shape for the rest of the season.

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Bristol City

Ins

  • Shae Yanez

  • Sarah Stratigakis

  • Lisa Evans

Outs

  • Benedictine Haaland

Bristol City were always going to struggle to compete financially but made three shrewd additions to help their bid to stay in the WSL. The signing of Scotland's Lisa Evans from relegation rivals West Ham was a great piece of business, adding much-needed experience to a young squad.

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Chelsea

Ins

  • Nathalie Bjorn

  • Mayra Ramirez

Outs

  • Jessie Fleming

The masters of the transfer window struck again. Chelsea received a healthy £250,000 sum as Jessie Fleming left for Portland Thorns, and reinvested that to complete the British record signing of forward Mayra Ramirez from Levante.

She is an exciting addition to help cover the loss of injured striker Sam Kerr.

They also beat competition for centre-back Nathalie Bjorn from Everton and secured loan moves for several youngsters. A strong window.

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Everton

Ins

  • Rikke Madsen

Outs

  • Nathalie Bjorn

Brian Sorensen has been very limited in the market but he's still been able to sign three players, including Arsenal's Kathrine Kuhl on loan, which is a great signing.

However, they still haven't addressed the key area, which is their lack of depth in defence.

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Leicester City

Ins

  • Saori Takarada

  • Yuka Momiki

  • Emilia Pelgander

Outs

  • N/A

Another strong window from manager Willie Kirk, who did his business very early.

The arrivals of Japanese pair Yuka Momiki and Saori Takarada are particularly exciting, while there has not been many outgoings.

It means Leicester can build on a good season so far.

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Liverpool

Ins

  • N/A

Outs

  • Natasha Flint

Like Brighton, Liverpool did their business in the summer. It meant only outgoings for Matt Beard's side in January, with Natasha Flint's departure to Celtic coming as a bit of a surprise.

However, with attackers returning from lengthy injuries and good squad depth already, they can still compete for a top-six finish.

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Manchester City

Ins

  • Poppy Pritchard

  • Tara O'Hanlon

  • Laura Blindkilde Brown

Outs

  • Julie Blakstad

  • Deyna Castellanos

It's been a mixed window for City. They spent a lot of money on promising 20-year-old midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown as cover for the injured Jill Roord. That came after they tied down key player Yui Hasegawa to a new deal.

However, Deyna Castellanos and Julie Blakstad departed just two seasons after high-profile arrivals, while speculation continues over the futures of goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, as well as winger Lauren Hemp, who has not signed a new deal yet.

But they have more than enough to challenge for the title.

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Manchester United

Ins

  • N/A

Outs

  • N/A

A disappointing transfer window. United, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, were not able to strengthen at all, despite manager Marc Skinner insisting they needed to add quality.

While their rivals have got even stronger, United have stood still and could pay a heavy price.

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Tottenham

Ins

  • Wang Shuang

  • Matilda Vinberg

  • Charli Grant

Outs

  • Angharad James

Tottenham did some good business after a quieter summer than some of the other teams around them.

Australia defender Charlotte Grant's arrival is a particularly exciting one, especially given the competition Spurs faced to sign her.

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West Ham

Ins

  • Kristie Mewis

  • Katrina Gorry

  • Marika Bergman-Lundin

Outs

  • Lisa Evans

  • Izzy Atkinson

West Ham had a very strong window - putting out a statement of intent about their determination to avoid relegation.

The signings of USA midfielder Kristie Mewis and experienced Australia international Katrina Gorry are real coups but they did fail to bring in a striker, which was a key target for them.

That could harm them but those marquee signings should help them avoid the drop.

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