Women's football

Skinner stepped down on Monday, after a disappointing WSL season that saw United finish nine points off the Champions League places, but he is not the problem

Marc Skinner has left his role as head coach of Manchester United just one month before the start of the new Women's Super League season. Skinner spent five years at the club and helped the Red Devils hit several notable milestones, delivering their first major honour with the 2024 FA Cup. However, it was announced on Monday that he has left United by mutual consent.

Sam Kerr scores her first Gotham FC goal as the Bats draw Portland Thorns FC 2-2, while Sofia Cantore lifts Washington Spirit past Lindsey Heaps and Denver Summit FC 1-0. GOAL ranks all 16 NWSL teams in this week’s Power Rankings.

England international Hannah Hampton has committed her future to Chelsea by signing a new two-year contract with the Blues. The star goalkeeper's renewal provides a crucial boost for the club following a period of squad transition and fanbase anxiety.

Spain forward Salma Paralluelo has officially joined French powerhouses OL Lyonnes on a four-year contract following her departure from Barcelona. The 22-year-old free agent ends a glittering four-year spell in Catalonia, where she won 14 major trophies, to embark on her first career adventure outside of Spain under former manager Jonatan Giraldez.

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Manchester City for the transfer of Kerolin in a deal that would make the Brazil international one of the most expensive players in the history of the women's game. The two clubs have been in negotiations for several weeks and, after Barca had two previous bids rejected, a fee of €1.5m (£1.28m/$1.7m) has now been agreed.

Tottenham Hotspur Women have completed the marquee signing of France international defender Alice Sombath from Lyon for an undisclosed club-record fee. The highly-rated centre-back arrives in north London following a trophy-laden spell in France, providing a significant defensive boost to head coach Martin Ho's evolving squad ahead of the new campaign.

What an explosive women's transfer window it has been so far! Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead, Sam Kerr, Georgia Stanway and Mary Earps are just some of those who have been on the move in the first few weeks, but while a lot of business has already been done, there are still several big names worth keeping an eye on before windows start to slam shut in September.

Chelsea have announced the signing of France international Melvine Malard in a deal that represents a club-record sale for Manchester United. The forward worked with Blues boss Sonia Bompastor at Lyon and now reunites with her in London to strengthen an attack that has been depleted by departures, particularly that of Sam Kerr.

The Portugal legend broke Ali Daei's record, but he isn't the all-time international top scorer yet...

Arsenal are being heavily linked with a move for Spain international shot-stopper Misa Rodriguez following her departure from Real Madrid. The Gunners’ goalkeeping department is already well-stocked, thanks to Daphne van Domselaar and Anneke Borbe, but it appears it is going to be strengthened even further with the addition of the highly-rated 26-year-old.

It's official: Alexia Putellas is a London City Lionesses player. Michele Kang has lured some top talent to the club since taking over during the 2023-24 season, from five-time European champion Saki Kumagai to Sweden icon Kosovare Asllani, with a world-record fee paid for Grace Geyoro just last summer, too. But Putellas is a dream signing and the biggest indication yet that this project should be taken very seriously.

Kadidiatou Diani has become London City Lionesses' sixth signing of the summer, following Alexia Putellas, Mary Earps and more to a club that could be a serious threat for the Women's Super League title in just its second season in the division. Diani joins for a fee reported to be in excess of £500,000 ($670,000) from Lyon, the eight-time European champions also owned by London City owner Michele Kang.

It's been a hectic summer transfer window so far in the women's game, especially in the Women's Super League. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas has landed in the division, as has one of the NWSL's brightest stars in Manaka Matsukubo, while Georgia Stanway and Mary Earps have returned and other England stars, such as Beth Mead and Niamh Charles, have also been on the move. None of these eye-catching deals, though, have involved Manchester United.

Lisa Baum has been unveiled as Arsenal's fifth summer signing, joining for a significant six-figure fee that is reportedly a club-record sale for RB Leipzig. The 19-year-old had been linked with most of Europe's elite, including Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, but will instead reinforce the wide areas at Arsenal after the departure of Lionesses star Beth Mead.

Lionesses goalkeeper Khiara Keating has joined Liverpool after rejecting a new contract at Manchester City. The England international found game time hard to come by last year, leading to her being left out of some of Sarina Wiegman's squads. With the Women's World Cup less than a year away, she has now chosen to move on from the club she joined aged 11 to sign for the Reds.

The U.S. Women’s National Team will face its toughest tests of 2026 before turning its attention to World Cup qualifying, hosting world No. 1 Spain for two October friendlies. The teams will meet Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET, before facing off again three days later at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, at 7 p.m. ET. Recently retired USWNT icon Crystal Dunn will be honored before the opening match.

A complete guide to the United States' year, including the SheBelieves Cup and fixtures in qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup

London City Lionesses have continued their impressive summer transfer window with the addition of four-time Champions League winner Mapi Leon, following her departure from Barcelona. The Spain defender is London City's fifth new arrival, joining two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and former Lionesses star Mary Earps in signing up for Michele Kang's ambitious project.

It was always known that this was going to be a significant summer for Arsenal. With so many players out of contract, and so many names being consistently linked with a move to north London, mass change has been teased for a while. Now, it's starting to take shape. After the departures of Beth Mead, Katie McCabe and more, the replacements are piling in, with Georgia Stanway and Ona Batlle the stand-out names from four quick-fire announcements so far.

England international Niamh Charles has joined Manchester City from Chelsea, signing a three-year deal with the new Women's Super League champions. Left-back has been a priority in the transfer market for Andree Jeglertz's side, following Leila Ouahabi's departure, and Charles fits the bill as City's second summer signing, after the earlier arrival of fellow Lionesses star Beth Mead.

Arsenal have signed Spain international Ona Batlle on a free transfer from Barcelona, the Gunners' fourth summer signing to be announced in just eight days. Batlle follows Georgia Stanway, Geraldine Reuteler and Selina Cerci to the club, in a window of much change that has also seen the likes of Beth Mead and Katie McCabe depart.

It’s fair to say that Keira Barry’s first senior England call-up was unexpected. After injuries plagued the early years of her professional career, it was in February that the young forward ended her 10-year association with Manchester United and moved to the United States to sign for Bay FC. Exactly a month after her debut, she was on the bench as the Lionesses beat Spain 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

London City Lionesses have completed arguably the most significant signing in the history of the women's game, confirming the arrival of legendary midfielder Alexia Putellas. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner makes the move to England following a trophy-laden era at Barcelona, signalling a massive shift in the European football landscape.

Chelsea have secured the long-term future of one of English football's brightest talents after Aggie Beever-Jones signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge. The homegrown forward, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the club's ranks, has committed her future to the Blues until 2030.

Lionesses star Georgia Stanway has opened up on her decision to join Arsenal, after the Gunners' announced her arrival on Friday morning. It's a move that ends Stanway's four-year spell in Germany with Bayern Munich and she has now explained why she wanted to return to England and what made her choose Arsenal, amid interest from both Chelsea and Lyon.

Barcelona are pushing to complete a deal for Brazil international forward Kerolin which would represent a club-record transfer. The reigning European champions have already had two bids rejected by Manchester City but the two clubs are working to finalise the move, with Kerolin reported to be open to the transfer and City having no objection to selling the 26-year-old.

Lionesses star Georgia Stanway has been unveiled as Arsenal’s first signing of the summer transfer window, following her departure from Bayern Munich. The England international made it known in January that she would be leaving the club at the end of last season and her move to the Gunners has finally been confirmed after months of speculation.

Erica Parkinson was just 12 years old when she laid out her goals to a mindset coach who has spent the last six years helping her plot a route to the top of the game. "I want to play for England at the World Cup," she proclaimed. Fast-forward to today and, having become the Lionesses’ youngest call-up under Sarina Wiegman and just signed for the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL, it’s not out of the question that the dream could be realised in 12 months’ time.