Women's Super League

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner said having the world's most expensive female player Naomi Girma is brilliant for the Women's Super League, but the spending "skews the market".

"With my women's football hat on it is fantastic that we can get to this level of investment in the women's game," Skinner said.

"Chelsea are top of the league and clear and as Manchester United manager I want to be ultra competitive and try and push them as much as possible. I also understand I have been in it when there is no money in the game. I am happy the investment has come in.

"Does it widen the gap? It definitely skews the market. It's fantastic for the women's game, the growth and development in such a short period of time. But we may potentially see fallouts and how it affects everybody else.

"It has to make you try harder. That is the reality. On the pitch you have to find solutions, you have to adapt. I don't know if many players of that level have been signed in these types of window before. For us it is a challenge but all we can do and all we will ever do is just be us, focus on what we can control."

Here are other lines from his news conference before Sunday's game against Tottenham (kick-off 18:45 GMT).

• He said Manchester United "can't go and spend those type of fees" and have to "recruit smartly" and keep being "young, energetic and a little bit rebellious".

• On missing out on signing Chloe Kelly on deadline day, he said: "Chloe Kelly is an Arsenal player so doesn't affect us now. I am really happy with the forward options we have."

• Geyse remains on compassionate leave and is in "a moment of grieving" but has a meeting with the wellbeing team on Friday to discuss her return.

• He said the team performed well in Grace Clinton's absence and have deserved to keep their places, but Cinton still has a "starting role" and is "hugely important".

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Tottenham have confirmed the departure of winger Shuang Wang on a permanent transfer to Wuhan Chegu Jiangda WFC.

The China international joined Spurs in January 2024 and made 11 appearances for the club in all competitions.

She returns to her native China having not featured for Tottenham since the FA Cup final in may.

A statement from Spurs said: "We thank Shuang for her service and wish her well for the future."

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Arsenal manager Renee Slegers says Chloe Kelly will be a "great addition" to her side for the second half of the season.

After a chaotic transfer saga, Kelly joined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day.

"Chloe is an exciting attacking player and will be a great addition to our squad as we approach the second half of the season," said Slegers.

She's direct and explosive, with huge natural talent and ability. We're all looking forward to working with Chloe as an Arsenal player in the coming months."

Arsenal's director of women's football, Clare Wheetley, said she was "thrilled" to welcome academy graduate Kelly back to the club.

She said: "As an academy graduate, we've been proud to see the career she's gone on enjoy, both at club and international level.

"We're delighted she'll be representing Arsenal again as we aim to compete for honours this season."

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The January transfer window for the Women's Super League is now closed, but that doesn't mean we've had all the deals announced.

We are still waiting for official confirmation from Chelsea of their expected signing of England midfielder Keira Walsh from Barcelona.

Elsewhere, Liverpool could confirm the loan signing of Chelsea left-back Alejandra Bernabe.

We're awaiting confirmation on those, but there have been quite a few deals done today - including the last-minute announcement of Chloe Kelly's loan move to Arsenal from Manchester City.

Man City brought in Arsenal's Laura Wienroither on loan, while the Gunners signed United States defender Jenna Nighswonger on a permanent deal.

Crystal Palace signed Allysa Swaby from AC Milan and loaned Chelsea's Aniek Nowen.

Leicester City, meanwhile, recruited Iceland striker Hlin Eiriksdottir from Kristianstads.

With Crystal Palace having completed the signing of Jamaica defender Allyson Swaby from AC Milan, here are the "ins" and "outs" for Women's Super League clubs in this window.

Palace have now recruited three players on permanent deals, the same number as Manchester City and Tottenham.

The January window closes at 23:00 GMT.

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One of the big stories of transfer deadline day has been whether Manchester City and England forward Chloe Kelly could be on the move.

It looks like that could now be the case, with City having accepted a loan offer from Women's Super League rivals Arsenal for the 27-year-old.

But Kelly's future isn't certain yet. Manchester United, who have made an offer too, are not out of the race.

BBC Sport is not aware of whether Kelly herself has accepted Arsenal's offer.

On Wednesday evening, Kelly posted a message on Instagram saying she wants "to be happy again" and did not see her future at City beyond the summer.

Kelly, whose City contract expires in June and has started just once this season, is concerned about her place in the England squad with the 2025 European Championship taking place in July.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

We are four hours away from the transfer window deadline and there are still a few deals not yet completed.

The big one, of course, is Manchester United's pursuit of England forward Chloe Kelly from Manchester City.

They have made an offer - it is unclear if it is for a permanent deal or a loan - but City are still unwilling to allow Kelly to join a rival as things stand.

Elsewhere, Liverpool are set to bring in Chelsea left-back Alejandra Bernabe on loan for the rest of the season and Palace are hoping to add to their squad.

West Ham, Tottenham and Everton are not expecting to do any more business.

The transfer deadline is fast approaching and Women's Super League clubs have got until 23:00 GMT on Thursday to get any last-minute deals over the line.

With Leicester having confirmed the signing of Hlin Eiriksdottir, here's a rundown of every team's confirmed "ins" and "outs" so far.

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New Aston Villa manager Natalia Arroyo says her side need to take advantage of their support at Villa Park and make the team feel "strong and confident at home".

The 38-year-old Spaniard takes charge of her first fixture on Sunday, when they host Women's Super League leaders Chelsea at 14:30 GMT.

Speaking on Aston Villa Women's X, external, Arroyo said: "It will be great to play in the stadium. Let's see if we are really able to bring in as many people as possible.

"It always important for our team to feel strong at home. We are struggling with some games at home and we need to really build the atmosphere where the fans are having fun with the game that we are trying to do, that the players feel really safe and strong and confident at home, and that the opponents feel like it is really difficult to get points and to win and to dominate against us in our stadium."

Arroyo added that she "really loves great atmospheres" and hopes that will be the case at Villa Park.

"Lets see if we can have the crowd with us and really make our fan base stronger, it will depend on our performances," she said.

"Hopefully we can build a team that plays with passion, with energy and that after the game the fans are asking other people to come to the next game."

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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Laura Kaminski says there are "really positive signs" that her newly promoted Crystal Palace side can go toe-to-toe against Women's Super League mainstay teams like Tottenham.

Palace fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat by Spurs on Sunday after Olivia Holdt scored a 95th-minute winner for the visitors.

Kaminski said she was "bitterly disappointed" with the result that leaves the club bottom of the WSL, four points adrift of safety.

"There's no doubt about it, I was gutted for the group," Kaminski said.

"I thought their second-half performance showed everything. It showed character, grit, determination."

However, the Palace boss added that there were "so many positives" to take from the game.

"It's points that we're after. We know that, you know there's no there's no denying that," she said ahead of Sunday's trip to Brighton (14:00 GMT kick-off).

"But for me, for a newly promoted side to go toe-to-toe with a side that's pushing top half of the table and have been in there for several years, that shows some really positive signs for us and some really good quality in our squad, and most of all - great character."

Here are more key lines from Kaminski's news conference:

• "I'm making no comment at this moment in time," Kaminski said when asked about any potential deadline signings or departures.

• Palace are "really happy" with their two new signings - Ria Oling and Clarissa Larisey.

• Kaminski said the pair have been "refreshing" and helped add competition to the squad.

• On Chelsea attracting big signings like Naomi Girma, the Palace manager said she "expects nothing less" than the WSL to attract top talent.

• Kaminski said Palace "control our own luck and destiny" in the relegation battle.

• She said the "trophy" to stay in the WSL would be just as big as trophy that secured their promotion from the Championship last season.

The transfer deadline is fast approaching and Women's Super League clubs have got until 23:00 GMT on Thursday to get any last-minute deals over the line.

Here's a rundown of every team's confirmed "ins" and "outs" so far following the moves we've had today.

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City manager Amandine Miquel has praised the club for being "efficient" in the winter transfer window.

The Foxes have made just one permanent signing so far, with Wales international Olivia Clark brought in to replace goalkeeper Lize Kop, who joined Tottenham.

However, the club are set to sign striker Hlin Eiriksdottir from Swedish side Kristianstads on deadline day.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton (14:00 GMT kick-off), Miquel said "anything could happen" before Thursday's 23:00 GMT cut-off time.

"I think we have been efficient, we did what we needed to do. We looked at everything that was happening and it's a good window," Miquel added.

"We will stay active until the last second, like any game."

The Leicester boss refused to confirm or deny Eiriksdottir's signing.

Here are more key lines from Miquel's news conference:

• There is a "possibility" Lena Petermann could be available for selection soon.

• Shannon O'Brien is "a player with a lot of potential" but the club are "taking their time" as she continues her return from knee surgery.

• Miquel feels performances have been "going much better" since December.

• Leicester are aiming for 30 points from their remaining 10 fixtures, with Miquel adding: "If it's less it's less, but we are not picking games, we are just going for every game".

• She hopes Emilia Pelgander can "enjoy life and football" during her loan spell at FC Rosengard.

• The Leicester boss said it is "not ideal" that Chelsea appear to have "no limits" in attracting big signings like Naomi Girma.

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England forward Chloe Kelly "needs to play football", according to her former international team-mate Ellen White.

On Wednesday evening the Manchester City player wrote on Instagram that she wants "to be happy again" and has accepted her future is not with her current club.

The 27-year-old has started only one Women's Super League game for City this season.

Speaking on the Women's Football Weekly Podcast, White said: "It's disappointing for her if she has got this ankle injury that's keeping her out, she needs minutes.

"Chloe Kelly is very very talented. For me it was like a joy when I was at Man City to have Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly on either side.

"She needs to play football and she needs to play in the Euros. That's a priority. To do that she needs to be playing football and I don't know if she's guaranteed to get into that starting XI [at Manchester City] because that hasn't happened this season.

"There are some very good players in those wide positions for Man City so does she go on loan somewhere, I don't know.

"I think if she does go on loan it gives her a great opportunity to go to the Euros this summer."

Listen to the full episode here

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Leicester City are set to sign striker Hlin Eiriksdottir from Swedish side Kristianstads.

The 24-year-old was Kristianstads's top scorer in the Damallsvenskan last season with 15 goals in 25 matches.

Eiriksdottir has made 35 appearances and scored six goals for Iceland since making her senior debut in 2018.

It would be Leicester's second signing of the winter transfer window after they brought in Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark to replace Lize Kop, who left to join Tottenham.

Amandine Miquel's side are currently 11th in the Women's Super League, four points above bottom-placed Crystal Palace.

Eiriksdottir's arrival would be seen as a big boost to Leicester, who have struggled with injuries to their attacking players this season.

French striker Noemie Mouchon was ruled out for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in October.

The club's top two scorers from last season - Jutta Rantala and Lena Petermann - also remain sidelined because of injury, having not featured since October and November respectively.

English forward Shannon O'Brien made her first WSL start this season in the Foxes' win over Liverpool on Sunday after undergoing surgery last year.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

England forward Chloe Kelly has made it known that she wants to leave Manchester City this month but faces a race against time to agree a move.

The 27-year-old has been frustrated by a lack of game time this season and has not featured for City in January with speculation increasing.

There have been reports linking her with a loan move to Manchester United, which they claim is Kelly's preferred choice.

However, we do not know if United have made an offer.

It is believed Brighton made an enquiry earlier this month but nothing transpired.

Clubs have until 23:00 GMT on Thursday to agree transfers and Kelly hopes to secure a move in order to keep her place in England's squad for Euro 2025.