Rachel Daly, Bethany England and the 15 best Women's Super League signings of the 2022-23 season - ranked

There was a lot of good January business done by WSL clubs this season, with Liverpool bagging one of the signings of the season when they snapped up Fuka Nagano in the winter.

The Reds were crying out for a player who could improve them in possession, and the calmness and composure of the Japan international has done exactly that. Per 90 minutes, Nagano is in the top three in Liverpool's squad for the most successful passes, both generally and in the final third, and also for how frequently she's won back possession.

"She's just a technician," manager Matt Beard said earlier this season. "To see some of the things she does with the ball, it just creates so much for us. We break lines with her, when she can slow the game down, speed it up for us." She's only going to get better in her first full season with the club, too.

One of the many solid bits of business done in the loan market this season in the WSL, Jess Park has excelled during her temporary stint with Everton, so much so that she's earned the chance to show what she can do with England's senior team, too.

Park has long showed glimpses of her talent with Manchester City's first team, most notably assisting Georgia Stanway in the 2020 Women's FA Cup final, but this was a good opportunity for her to get regular game time at the top level.

The young forward has made significantly more successful passes in the final third than any other Everton player, her 133 some 18 clear of anyone else, and no one has been directly involved in more goals, either, with her racking up three goals and four assists.

With Park still developing and the Toffees inconsistent at times, those numbers are not as high as they could've been, but there's no doubt that she has been a superb addition to Brian Sorensen's squad.

After establishing herself as a consistent if underrated performer during a year-and-a-half with Brighton, Emma Koivisto joined Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer and, unsurprisingly, it's been a steal of a deal for the Reds.

Only Katie Stengel, her team's starting centre-forward, has been directly involved in more goals than Koivisto, quite an impressive feat given she lines up in defence. The Finland international has more assists than any Liverpool player, while also winning the most tackles and making the most interceptions in the squad, level at the top of both tallies with Taylor Hinds.

Koivisto's ability to have an impact at both ends of the pitch has made her an excellent addition to Beard's group, with her likely to only build on this campaign as the Reds look to strengthen their position in the WSL following a solid first season after promotion.

When Aston Villa sprung a January surprise and announced the signing of Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs, it seemed like a great signing for all parties. Villa needed more in midfield, Nobbs needed game time and she wasn't getting much of that at Arsenal.

Unsurprisingly, it has worked out brilliantly. The England international has bolstered a team that was already performing well, added more control and quality to the middle of the park and brings a ton of winning experience that will only help them in the long run.

After almost falling out of the Lionesses picture completely, Nobbs should be on that plane to the World Cup this summer, too.

After losing Keira Walsh to Barcelona, Manchester City didn't hang about. In came Yui Hasegawa for a six-figure fee. The Japan international operated as an attacking midfielder at West Ham, but would end up playing deeper in the north west, helping to make up for England international Walsh's departure to Catalunya.

It's not her best position, but that hasn't stopped Hasegawa being one of the best players in the league this season. Her passing range, reading of the game and general control on the ball has been an important feature of City's play.

Now, if the club could sign a more natural player for that deep-lying role this summer and unleash Hasegawa further forward, it could unlock a lot more of her creativity.

Having lost both Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema to ACL injuries before Christmas, there was extra emphasis on Arsenal's January transfer window, especially when it came to attacking signings. Victoria Pelova had been linked to the Gunners for some time and, this year, the club finally brought her to north London. Since making the move, the versatile Dutchwoman has been excellent.

Able to operate on either flank and in midfield, Pelova's adaptability has been an important trait for a team that has only become more depleted since her arrival. The quality she can sprinkle onto a game in an instant has helped the Gunners overcome those challenges to stay firmly on course for European football for next season, too.

When Willie Kirk took over as Leicester boss in November, the Foxes were in a desperate situation. Without a point to their name from their first nine games, it was going to take a lot to rescue them from a seemingly inevitable relegation.

But the former Everton coach has worked wonders, with his dealings in the January transfer window an integral part of the turnaround. One of the five names he recruited in the winter was Courtney Nevin, the young Australia international full-back who was playing in Sweden with Hammarby.

She made an immediate impact, assisting the only goal of the game in a huge win over Liverpool in February. It's one of four she's provided since arriving in England, the most of any Leicester player all season.

Nevin has been huge on the defensive side, though, too, with no one in the WSL making more interceptions since her debut in the competition.

It's been a difficult first season in England for Brighton forward Elisabeth Terland. After all, her team have had four different coaches in the dugout, with Amy Merricks having two separate spells as interim, all while being dragged into a relegation scrap.

Yet, the 21-year-old forward has posted brilliant numbers, especially under the circumstances, with seven goals in 16 games. Take those away and the Seagulls would be six points worse off.

Terland was part of the Norway side that lost 8-0 at Brighton's AMEX Stadium during last summer's Euros and, speaking to GOAL ahead of the season, she admitted the experience "just gave me another good reason to come here and to make some better memories". She's certainly done that, having played a crucial role in the team's successful bid to stay up.

Another excellent loan signing, Kirsty Hanson has been outstanding for Aston Villa since arriving from Manchester United for the season. Only three players have been directly involved in more goals than the Scotland international, who has seven goals and nine assists to her name from 18 appearances.

She's been integral to Villa's success this term, which includes a highest-ever finish in the WSL and a first FA Cup semi-final, both in her attacking returns and her hard work on the defensive side of the game, too.

One of the most underrated signings of the season, Dan Turner has been a rock at the back for Aston Villa in what has been her first season as a centre-back. The 31-year-old arrived in the Midlands after her 15 year association with Everton came to an end, and that it was on a free transfer only makes it an even more impressive bit of business.

Turner has carved out an excellent career as a left-back, but head coach Carla Ward switched her into the heart of defence as the season kicked off and she looks like she's played there her whole life. No one on the Villa team has completed more passes, such is Turner's ability to play a role in the team's build-up, but she's also made more clearances and blocks than any team-mate. She's playing the best football of her career.

The best centre-back in the WSL this year, Maya Le Tissier's first season at Manchester United has been excellent. After making her name for herself at Brighton as a versatile young defender with great maturity, she's translated those qualities with ease to a club with more pressure, bigger demands and a higher level - and she's done the same with England, too.

The 21-year-old is excellent on the ball, reads play well and times her defensive interventions to perfection, meaning she's been a constant in United's line-ups this season while more established internationals have sat on the bench.

"We should be excited," was the assessment of Le Tissier's promise from head coach Marc Skinner midway through the campaign. He's right.

Another of Leicester's January signings, Janina Leitzig has made an incredible impact since she joined the Foxes on loan from Bayern Munich for the second half of the campaign.

Despite arriving midway through the season, only one goalkeeper has made more saves than Leitzig in the WSL, who hasn't made a single error that has led to the opponent having a shot at goal.

This summer, the 24-year-old will return to Germany and Bayern's crowded goalkeeper group, which includes four top senior shot-stoppers. But after playing such a pivotal role in Leicester's fight for survival, there is no doubt that clubs will be lining up to offer Leitzig a No.1 shirt instead.

Another January signing who has made quite the impact on a relegation-threatened side, Bethany England joined Tottenham for a WSL record fee. She's been worth every single penny.

The former Chelsea striker spent most of her time in west London as back-up to Sam Kerr, but a move to the north of the city has proved extremely fruitful, with her immediately becoming Spurs' first choice No.9.

England has scored 10 goals in just 11 appearances in the colours of her new club, a simply outstanding return given how little the team creates. Those goals have played an absolutely huge role in steering her side to safety.

Kenza Dali's qualities are well-known to the WSL, but this season has been her best since she arrived in England four years ago. Forming an incredibly fruitful relationship with the prolific Rachel Daly, only the Man City duo of Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp have created more chances than the France international, who has registered eight assists.

Her elegance on the ball has been a key part of Aston Villa's wonderful season, while her experience has been beneficial in the big steps forward this project has taken.

“This girl's a special talent," Daly said earlier this season. “She doesn't quite get the credit that she deserves." Sadly, that is true. Dali hasn't just been one of the signings of the season - she's been one of the players of the season.

It didn't take long for Rachel Daly to mark herself out as one of the signings of the summer. After joining Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee, she made her competitive debut against Manchester City on the opening weekend of the WSL season and led her team to a shock 4-3 win, scoring twice.

That would be the start of a record-breaking season. Daly has since scored 21 goals in 21 league games, an unprecedented return for a player who won the Euros last summer as a left-back. It's the highest number of goals ever scored by an Englishwoman in a single WSL season.

The 31-year-old has long been a solid No.9, showcasing as much during six years with the Houston Dash, but she has gone up another level this year. It's hard to argue against her being the best player in the division this term, never mind the best signing any club has made during it.