Image source, WPPLArsenal have won all three of the Women's Super League's awards for December.
Alessia Russo was voted player of the month, while interim boss Renee Slegers won the manager of the month award.
The Gunners won both of their games in December, beating Aston Villa 4-0 and Liverpool 1-0.
Russo scored three goals across the two games, with her second strike against Villa also winning the goal of the month vote.
Image source, Liverpool FCLiverpool have signed midfielder Julia Bartel on loan from fellow Women's Super League side Chelsea until the end of the season.
The Spanish Under-23 international joined the Blues on a three-year deal from Barcelona last summer.
She played every game as Spain won the Under-20 World Cup in 2022.
Bartel said: "I'm very happy to be here in Liverpool in a big club and I'm looking forward to starting.
"I think Liverpool is one of the big teams in this league and I think the style of play of this club can be great for me and I'm so excited to start the season here.
"It's been a change in my career in a new country but I'm happy here, it's a new league, a different league from Spain and I think I'm adapting here."
On what Liverpool fans can expect from her, she added: "I'm a player who wants to have the ball, an assertive player and I want to give these things to a team.
"I want to enjoy the training and matches with the team, to help and to win as many matches as possible with this team."
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United pair Emma Watson and Jess Simpson have gone out on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Scotland midfielder Watson has joined fellow Women's Super League side Everton.
Watson made her return from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury against Everton in October's League Cup clash.
"I'm absolutely buzzing to be here," Watson told evertontv. "I've really enjoyed my first day here, getting to meet everyone, getting to know the girls and having a look around the facility. I'm really excited."
Defender Simpson has joined Championship side Bristol City on loan and returns to the Robins after a previous loan spell was cut short by injury.
Simpson recovered from injury at her parent club and made her senior United debut in November's League Cup win over Everton.
She joins Steve Kirby's Bristol City side who currently sit second in the Championship behind Birmingham City on goal difference.
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea have recalled forward Louna Ribadeira from her loan spell at Paris FC.
The 20-year-old signed a joined the Blues from the French club on a four-year contract in the summer, before returning there on loan.
Ribadeira scored one goal in two league appearances in her native country.
Image source, Chelsea FCChelsea defender Aniek Nouwen has signed a extension which will keep her at the club until the summer of 2026.
The 25-year-old Dutch international joined Chelsea from PSV in 2021 and spent the second half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan with AC Milan.
In December 2023 she suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury while on international duty with the Netherlands Under-23 team.
After putting pen to paper, Nouwen said: "I am very grateful for this extension and the trust. I am looking forward to returning to action and continuing my journey."
Head of women's football Paul Green added: "Aniek continues to make good progress with her rehabilitation and we are happy to extend her contract. We will monitor her fitness over the course of this month with a view to a possible loan move this window."
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool boss Matt Beard has provided some positive injury news on Marie Hobinger and Sophie Roman Haug.
Midfielder Hobinger has overcome a groin injury and returned to training this week before Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round match against West Ham.
"Herby should be back in training this week and might be available for the bench against West Ham," Beard said.
Roman Haug has been out since October with a foot and ankle injury and while Sunday's game comes too soon, the forward could return for the Reds' first Women's Super League game of 2025 against Brighton on 17 January.
"Sophie will be back in training the week after and hopefully should be back for Brighton," Beard added.
Tottenham have appointed Bri Campos as first team coach, joining manager Robert Vilahamn’s staff.
She worked with Vilahamn at former club BK Hacken in Sweden and will join for the second half of the Women’s Super League season.
The former Mexico international's arrival comes as first team transitional coach Anton Blackwood leaves his role to pursue another opportunity.
Vilahamn has a strong coaching staff with former Liverpool manager Vicky Jepson as senior assistant coach, as well as Chris Williams in charge of goalkeeping.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrooke Aspin spent last season on loan at Bristol City
Chelsea duo Brooke Aspin and Jorja Fox have returned to the club following their loan spells at Crystal Palace.
The youngsters joined Palace at the start of the season but both picked up anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
Fox, 21, suffered the knee injury during pre-season, while 19-year-old Aspin was injured on England under-23s duty in November.
Aspin made six appearances across all competitions for Palace, including four in the Women's Super League.
Image source, Getty ImagesLaila Harbert is yet to make her competitive debut for the first team
Arsenal academy graduate Laila Harbert has signed her first professional contract with the club.
The 18-year-old defensive midfielder and England under-17s captain joined Arsenal's academy at the age of nine.
She was part of Arsenal's pre-season tour in Washington D.C this summer after a dual-registration agreement saw her make 14 appearances for Women's Championship club Watford during the 2023-24 season.
"It's such a proud moment for me and my family to be able to put pen to paper on a professional contract at a club that feels like home," said Harbert.
"I joined Arsenal's academy at such a young age so to be able to invest my future in a place that I've grown up in, is a special feeling."
Image source, Getty ImagesShekiera Martinez spent eight years at former club Eintracht Frankfurt
West Ham striker Shekiera Martinez has returned to the club following a loan spell with SC Freiburg in Germany.
The 23-year-old scored five goals and registered two assists in 12 league matches in her home country.
It means she has accumulated enough points to meet the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria and is now eligible to play for West Ham.
GBE is a points-based system introduced in 2020. It is based on a player's match experience and the level they have played at internationally. All players must meet the WSL's criteria in order to play in England.
Martinez joined West Ham on a three-year deal last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter
Goalkeeper Katelin Talbert has returned to West Ham following the end of her loan spell with Tottenham.
The 25-year-old made one appearance for Spurs during a short-term loan that began on 7 September.
The American also spent last season on loan at Sweden side Djurgardens IF, having previously played in the United States, Iceland and Portugal.
Tottenham are seeking a goalkeeper in the January transfer window, which opened on Wednesday, with BK Hacken's Jennifer Falk among their targets.
Spurs goalkeeper Becky Spencer signed a new contract with the club in November that will run until June 2026.
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool have been interested in Sam Kerr since 2022
Liverpool are hoping to sign Scotland international Sam Kerr on loan from Bayern Munich this month.
The Women's Super League transfer window opened on 1 January and closes at 23:00 GMT on 30 January.
Manager Matt Beard said in December it is likely the club will sign just one player in January and sources say they hope it will be Kerr.
Liverpool have had long-standing interest in the 25-year-old midfielder and missed out on signing her in 2022.
Kerr joined Bayern in the summer of 2023 on a three-year deal and has made 13 appearances for the German side.
Image source, Manchester CityRebecca Knaak said she "didn't have to think about" joining Manchester City.
The 28-year-old defender is the first signing of the January transfer window for Gareth Taylor's side and arrives at Joie Stadium on a one-and-a-half year contract from Swedish champions FC Rosengard.
"It feels exciting to be here," Knaak said. "I think the WSL is the best league in the world right now. When I heard about the interest, I didn't have to think about it because it's such a big, big opportunity which I wanted to take.
"It was helpful for me that I already know Therese [Sjogran - City women's director of football]. I really trust her and her abilities, so it gives me a good feeling. The club has the highest ambitions and goals, and this also matches my own ambitions.
"I'm very proud and I feel honoured to be part of this big club. I can't wait to get started."
Knaak brings reinforcements to Taylor's side who are missing a number of key senior players through injury.
The Women's Super League may be on a winter break, but BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast is back for a New Year's Eve special.
Joining Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie is England international and former Manchester City defender Esme Morgan.
The team chat how Esme has got on in America playing in the NWSL including making it to the championship final, losing out to Orlando Pride.
Plus hear from England under-17's head coach Natalie Henderson and Demi Stokes, who talks about her move to Newcastle, motherhood and her passion for cooking.
