Women's Super League

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Chloe Kelly said she has accepted that her future no longer lies with Manchester City and has released a statement asking to leave the club.

The forward said on Instagram, external that her situation is "disappointing and not right" as she pushes for a move before Thursday's 23:00 GMT transfer deadline.

It's understood Manchester City are open to allowing Chloe to leave and that the England forward is considering an offer from another club.

Here is the statement in full.

"For a long time I've tried to work through professional challenges privately, not commenting publicly, but with my situation increasingly being debated in the public domain I feel it's time to be open and transparent and you heard it from my perspective.

"A key lesson I have learned in my life is that whilst I can't control someone's negative behaviour towards me, I can control how long I am prepared to tolerate it.

"From day one, I've felt so much love from my teammates and the fans. With my contract expiring in June I've accepted my future is not at this club beyond then.

"With the Euros fast approaching, this summer is a huge one and I want to be in a position to give it my best shot to represent my country. Something which has always filled me with such pride and it is a true honour to do so. However, to be dictated whom I can and can't join with only four months left of the football season is having a huge impact on not only my career by my mental wellbeing. The situation has been dragged on for too long, it's disappointing and not right.

"I'm at a pivotal point in my life and my career is so important to me and is very disappointing that the sport we love can make you feel this way especially after there's been so much growth in our sport. This is why I'm posting this because I want to make you all aware that we as players dedicate our lives to our sport and our clubs but our dreams can be crushed whilst we live in silence.

"I am human and I have and will give everything to the game that I love. Ultimately I just want to be happy again."

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Defender Lily Woodham's loan at Crystal Palace has been extended until the end of season.

The 24-year-old Wales international has made 11 appearances for the Women's Super League club since arriving in September from Seattle Reign.

She will remain at the club until 30 June 2025.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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West Ham defender Shannon Cooke is in discussions over a potential loan move to Birmingham City before Thursday's transfer window deadline.

The 24-year-old is hoping for more regular game time at the Women's Championship side in the second half of the season.

Cooke joined West Ham on deadline day in January 2023 but has made just three starts in the Women's Super League this season.

Birmingham City currently sit top of the Women's Championship, level on points with Bristol City.

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Robert Vilahamn says he "loves" being head coach at Tottenham because of the collaboration between the men's and women's teams which makes it feel like one club, rather than two.

The 42-year-old Swede says he is able to make use of resources on the men's side, such as recruitment and how they scout the best players using data.

"That's great knowledge to bring to the women's game," he tells BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast. "That collaboration is amazing.

"You don't feel like you're one club and two teams, you feel like you are one club and you have different areas within that club and that's why I love to work here."

Vilahamn says he has regular contact with Ange Postecoglou, who manages the men's side.

"Me and Ange meet basically every month to speak about football," he says. "We don't play exactly the same style but we play with a certain identity and we play with a certain style of bravery and attacking style.

"When you do that it's also really nice to feel like you're part of something bigger than just your team. Tottenham want to have that approach and that makes it really fun to be here.

"It's not like I'm sitting there and he's just telling me what to do, we actually have a decent conversation.

"To have that, [so] emotionally that you feel connected to the whole club, that's brilliant."

The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly is now available on BBC Sounds.

In this week's podcast, Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines talk the record signing of US defender Naomi Girma who has joined Chelsea from San Diego Wave for £900,000.

Is there any stopping Chelsea who go seven points clear at the top of the table and what does this mean for the rest of the WSL?

Ben also caught up with Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn who gave an insight into recruitment and how he would like to see more female coaches coming through.

Listen to the latest episode.

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Brighton have moved Wednesday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Durham to their training ground because of heavy rainfall.

The match was due to be played at Broadfield Stadium but rain has left the pitch "potentially" unplayable, the club said.

"With the support of the Football Association we have taken the proactive decision to switch the tie to the training ground," a statement added.

The match will now be played at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, with a 19:00 GMT kick-off.

All tickets bought by home fans have been refunded because of the limited capacity of the training ground, but the club will now release 150 tickets for season ticket holders.

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Everton boss Brian Sorensen says the club's new owners, The Friedkin Group, are considering a number of options for where the women's team will play their home games in the future.

The Toffees have staged the majority of their games at Walton Hall Park since 2020, although the team has played some high-profile matches at Goodison Park.

Asked if a groundshare with the men's side at Everton's new stadium, which is opening next season, is an option, Sorensen told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Yeah I think so, but I don't think [the new owners] have ruled anything out, that's for sure.

"They are very open-minded. It's just what is best for the women's programme?

"Is it building Walton Hall Park out so it looks like Kingsmeadow, is it finding another venue, is it going into the new stadium?

"We have better people than me to make those decisions in terms of what's best for the long-term programme on the women's side, so let's see what they come up with but I just know they are very supportive."

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Aston Villa goalkeeper Sophia Poor has joined London City Lionesses on loan until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old joined Villa in 2023 and has gone on to make two senior appearances, both coming at the end of last season.

Women's Championship club London City Lionesses are pushing for promotion to the top tier.

Villa signed West Ham goalkeeper Katelin Talbert on loan for the rest of the season so Poor leaves in search of regular game time.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Chelsea have shown interest in United States midfielder Sam Coffey before Thursday's transfer window deadline in the Women's Super League.

The 26-year-old defensive midfielder is currently playing for National Women's Soccer League side Portland Thorns, who she joined in 2022.

Sources close to the player and the club claim her party has had informal discussions with Chelsea this month but she is currently training in Arizona, preparing for the 2025 season.

Coffey was part of the USA squad which won gold at last summer's Olympic Games and started in the final against Brazil.

Chelsea have made just one signing so far in January but it was a significant one as they broke the world record transfer fee for a female player to bring in USA defender Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave for £900,000.

Sonia Bompastor's side have been looking at defensive midfielders to recruit since the summer.

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Former Manchester City captain Steph Houghton said Chelsea's signing of Naomi Girma for a women's world record fee is "a lesson for all the other clubs".

The United States defender joined from San Diego Wave this week for about £900,000 and Houghton fears the spending gap between the league's top teams and the rest could make the WSL less competitive.

"I'm undecided," Houghton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club when asked if it is a good signing for the Women's Super League.

"It is massive for women's football, especially in England and this league. It is a big statement for Chelsea.

"My worry is that it is going to be two or three teams that are buying the best players, so what happens to the rest of the league? This is a lesson for all the other clubs that they need to start investing, they need to put their money to make this as competitive as possible.

"We want to make the WSL the best and the only way you can do that is by having games every week that are competitive and not so predictable. We want owners and footballers to go 'we're going to take this seriously. This is not about putting in as little as possible'.

"You have to go and invest in players and the professionalism of the game and the standard and the likes of Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal have done that for a long time. It is now about other clubs really biting the bullet and saying 'this is where we want to be and this is what we need to do for the game in general'."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Aston Villa goalkeeper Sophia Poor is set to join London City Lionesses on loan until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old graduated from Leicester City's academy and joined Villa in 2023, making two senior appearances at the end of last season.

It is believed that current London City Lionesses goalkeeper Grace Moloney could depart the club this month, making room in the squad for Poor.

Women's Championship club London City Lionesses are pushing for promotion to the top tier and have until Thursday, 30 January to recruit new signings.

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West Ham full-back Ines Belloumou has returned from her loan spell at Lazio and joined Malmo on loan for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.

The France Under-21 international joined the Hammers in the summer and made nine appearances during her Serie A spell.

The France U23 international joined the Hammers in the summer and spent the first half of the season at the Italian club, making nine appearances in Serie A.

A statement from the Hammers said: "Everyone at West Ham United wishes Ines all the best during her time at Malmo."

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Tottenham have signed Sweden defender Josefine Rybrink on a permanent deal until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old joins as a free agent having recently made over 100 appearances for Swedish side BK Hacken, including 14 games in the Women's Champions League.

The centre-back will wear the number 12 shirt and becomes manager Robert Vilahamn's third signing of the January transfer window.

Josefine made her international debut in February 2021 and has earned seven caps for Sweden.

Tom Gayle
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentator at Villa Park

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You would struggle to find a more versatile player in the Women's Super League than Rachel Daly.

Who else can say they have won the Golden Boot ahead of Bunny Shaw, Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema, but also started both the European and World Cup final's as a full-back.

Having made the decision to retire from international football in April 2024 due to being repeatedly played out of position, I can't have been the only person watching on during Manchester City's 4-2 victory at Villa Park, wondering why Aston Villa's biggest goal threat was playing so deep.

Daly is not the first, and won't be the last player who puts the needs of the team ahead of their own.

There was no sign of frustration at being asked to be a box-to-box midfielder. The work rate was relentless, whether it be making defensive headers, intercepting the ball, supporting attacks or her tireless pressing.

It was a game which typified her importance to the collective, but for me the overwhelming evidence of playing Daly as a forward came in the 94th minute.

Her only chance of the game was tucked away emphatically, only to see the goal controversially ruled out for offside despite the ball coming off a Manchester City player prior to Daly's strike.

After turning 33 last month it's fair to suggest Daly might not have too many more years of elite level football left in her legs.

Yet she is a player who is out of contract this summer, and with the exceptions of Chelsea and Manchester City, I can't see another WSL team who wouldn't benefit from her attacking prowess, and I'm sure she'll have admirers from abroad too.

New head coach Natalia Arroyo will be looking to establish Aston Villa as a team who can consistently challenge for a top-five placing in the league. For me, playing Daly as an out-and-out striker seems an obvious place to start.

Manchester City forward Vivianne Miedema is "getting back to the player that we know", according to former England midfielder Fara Williams.

The all-time Women's Super League top scorer has scored four goals in three games in all competitions since returning from a three-month absence because of a knee injury.

On Saturday the Netherlands international scored twice to help her side beat Aston Villa 4-2 at Villa Park, include a stunning second goal which saw her curl an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

"She is a player that I've admired over the years," said Williams on the BBC's Women's Football Show.

"We've seen her do it season after season. The way she opened up and bends it into the top corner [for the second goal] - an unbelievable finish."

Saturday's victory saw City bounce back from their 4-2 derby defeat by Manchester United but they now face top-four rivals Arsenal twice in the space of four days – at home in the league on Sunday, followed by a trip to north London for a League Cup semi-final midweek.

"The Arsenal games are going to be a good measure to see where they're at," former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha said on the same programme.

"I think the fact Bunny [Shaw] is coming back is going to be huge for them. With the likes of her, Vivianne Miedema, Jill Roord, Jess Park chipping in with a goal as well, even though defensively they have not been as good this year as they have in years gone by, the fact is the goal threat is going to be there."

For more analysis watch the Women's Football Show, where you can catch all the highlights from the weekend's six matches.

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Man United climbed up to second in the WSL table with a comfortable 3-0 win over Brighton at Leigh Sports Village. Here is what the managers had to say on Sky Sports after the game.

Man United's Marc Skinner: "It's nice when it happens - we got exactly what we wanted. I wanted us to be more ruthless in the first half and there should have been a few more goals, but I'm really happy with the collective performance.

"Ella Toone is scoring goals and smiling. We spoke about that love for the game and that's good for Ella, good for United, and good for England.

"We want to see a smile and she's enjoying football. You can see by the way she's playing with freedom. She'll have her up days and her down days, and we'll be there for her."

Brighton's Dario Vidosic: "The first 20 minutes, we made it difficult for ourselves and gifted them two goals. We had a really good chance at the start of the second half, where Nikita [Parris] goes over the bar from two metres out, but they were levels above us tonight.

"We should do better with all three goals and that's something that's been a theme for us this week: shooting ourselves in the foot. We were disorganised without the ball and a little bit off in all areas. When we were good, we were competitive, but when you're off, you get punished.

"It's a tough week, with three tough opponents, but we've got to keep going. With a bit of consistency, some players returning, and some training sessions, we'll find our rhythm and get back to the old Brighton."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Leigh Sports Village

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Ultimately this was very straightforward for United, both through their attacking abilities and Brighton's lack thereof.

This is the first time Brighton have failed to have a shot on target in the WSL since facing Tottenham in February 2022.

They are badly missing the injured Fran Kirby up front as they gave United keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce precious little to do all evening.

For United, this was a smooth performance built on the solid midfield of Dominique Janssen and player of the match Hinata Miyazawa.

They pulled the strings deep, while Ella Toone roved with confidence in attacking midfield as she looks refreshed following a spell out with injury.

It means United can keep trying to chase Chelsea at the top of the WSL - or, more likely, maintain their place in the Champions League qualification spots.