Crystal Dunn’s retirement left teammates emotional and reflective. Her 12-year international career shaped players from Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson to Croix Bethune and Sophia Wilson.
As investment in the women’s game continues to grow, each and every transfer window feels bigger and bigger, as both the anticipation and likelihood of new record transfers and big money moves for the game’s greatest stars increases. In that sense, January is never as headline-grabbing as the summer window, but there has still been plenty of eye-catching business over the last few weeks - especially in the Women’s Super League.
England's most recent debutante, Anouk Denton, has joined NWSL club Bay FC from West Ham in what is reportedly a club-record sale for the Hammers. The 22-year-old defender won her first cap for the Lionesses back in December and is now set for a new chapter in 2026, moving to the United States after impressing in London for the last three years.
Chelsea's 2024-25 Women's Super League season was an all-timer. Undefeated through 22 games - the first team ever to achieve that in the competition's history - while also registering a record points return of 60, the Blues ascended to unprecedented levels of dominance in their first year under new head coach Sonia Bompastor. What has gone wrong, then, that means the six-time defending champions are on the brink of relinquishing their crown less than a year later?
Arsenal have been given some extremely positive news after goalkeeper Anneke Borbe was discharged from hospital following a nasty looking head injury in Sunday's FIFA Women's Champions Cup triumph over Corinthians. There was serious concern for the 25-year-old but it appears her situation may not be as bad as first feared.
Arsenal icon Katie McCabe is set to leave the club at the end of the season as the Gunners prepare for what is going to be a huge summer. The Ireland international is one of 10 players soon to be out of contract in north London and, as Arsenal near deals for both England's Georgia Stanway and Barcelona's Ona Batlle, her 11-year stay at the club will reportedly come to an end.
Sonia Bompastor has sensationally opened the door to a Chelsea exit, saying she would be “happy to go” if the reigning WSL champions decided that she is no longer the right person to take the club forward. The Blues, who enjoyed domestic dominance last season, suffered a humbling 5-1 defeat to Manchester City last time out and sit a long way off the title-chasing pace.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has explained why Lionesses star Lucy Bronze missed out on Sunday's Women's Super League defeat to table toppers Manchester City. The England defender was a surprise absentee from the teamsheet at the Etihad Stadium and there will be concern that she could be unavailable for even longer, having felt pain in the same shin that she broke during the 2025 European Championship.
When the Women's Super League fixtures for the 2025-26 season were released, this Sunday's clash between Manchester City and Chelsea was pinpointed as a big one. That feeling only intensified through the first few weeks of the campaign, as the two teams in blue marked themselves out as the best in the division, winning 12 of their first 14 games combined to sit in the two spots at the top of the table. However, what has transpired in the last three months has made this weekend's meeting feel much less decisive.
Emma Hayes’ January camp offered clarity. With the SheBelieves Cup approaching, GOAL breaks down whose stock rose - and who slipped - as the USWNT’s core comes into focus.
Arsenal are reportedly in talks to sign Ona Batlle in the summer when her Barcelona contract expires. The Gunners have a wealth of options at full-back, including Smilla Holmberg, Taylor Hinds, Katie McCabe, and Emily Fox but it appears they have their sights set on the 26-year-old. Barcelona are at risk of losing Batlle and team-mate Alexia Putellas, who are both out of contract at the end of the season.
GOAL breaks down five key storylines to watch as Emma Hayes’ squad closes January camp, with debuts, leadership roles, and roster spots still up for grabs.
Women's Super League side London City Lionesses have been tipped to complete the 'landmark' signing of Barcelona star Alexia Putellas this month. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with Barcelona since joining the Spanish giants from Levante in 2012, which includes the Primera Division nine times and the Champions League three times.
Swiss star Alisha Lehmann suffered defeat on her Leicester City debut on Sunday as the Foxes were beaten 2-1 by West Ham in the Women's Super League. The result leaves Leicester down in ninth place in the table and just two points ahead of bottom side Liverpool after 13 games. Leicester now face a tricky run of fixtures as they battle to avoid relegation.
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor has conceded her side are unlikely to win the Women's Super League this season after defeat to Arsenal left them six points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more. The Blues were beaten for the second time in their last three home games.
A dominant second half carried the USWNT past Paraguay, with Trinity Rodman and Ally Sentnor shining - even as first-half issues linger for Emma Hayes' side.
Trinity Rodman became the highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world by staying in the NWSL. GOAL breaks down what that decision means - and the challenges that came with it.
Trinity Rodman returns to club and country roster, Gisele Thompson has a chance to solidify herself as an outside back, goalkeeper pool gets clearer, and five keys for the USWNT as they take on Paraguay to open up play in the new year.
U.S. international Trinity Rodman has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Washington Spirit, ending months of uncertainty surrounding her future. The agreement follows the NWSL’s introduction of the High Impact Player rule, though it remains unclear whether Rodman will be formally classified under the designation once it takes effect in July.
With qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the horizon, GOAL ranks the top 10 players who have featured for the USWNT since the start of 2025.
Alisha Lehmann has completed a sensational return to the Women’s Super League by joining Leicester City on a contract until 2028. The world’s most-followed female footballer has brought an end to her five-month spell with Italian side Como to bolster the Foxes’ ranks as they look to secure their top-flight status, with a potential debut against former club West Ham United pencilled in for this Sunday.
Alisha Lehmann has been linked with a return to the Women's Super League, just over 18 months after she left for Italy. The Swiss international ended a three-year stint at Aston Villa in mid-2024 before signing for Juventus with then-boyfriend Douglas Luiz. Last summer, she made the switch to Como after struggling for game time, and now Lehmann could be coming back to English football.
Defending champions Chelsea opened up their Women’s FA Cup campaign with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday. The free-scoring Blues booked their place in the fifth round thanks to a brace from Sam Kerr and goals from Millie Bright, Guro Reiten and Alyssa Thompson, with Sonia Bompastor's side a class above their WSL 2 opponents at Kingsmeadow.
Arsenal are reportedly exploring a deal for Bayern Munich star Georgia Stanway, who will be a free agent this summer. The England international has spent nearly four years at the German giants but earlier this month, the midfielder announced that this season would be her last there. Now, clubs are clamouring for her signature, but it is not yet certain where she is heading next.