Lucy Bronze, Mariona Caldentey & the top 10 signings of the 2024-25 Women's Super League season - ranked

Manchester United did some really solid transfer business in the summer window. It was exactly what they needed, really, given the departures of star goalkeeper Mary Earps, productive forward Lucia Garcia and captain Katie Zelem all came at the end of June, before Nikita Parris, their top-scorer last term, left just before the start of the season.

Dominique Janssen is unlucky to miss out on this list after providing consistently superb performances in the middle of the park to help the Red Devils move on from Zelem and also return to the Champions League. There is room, however, for Celin Bizet. Like another United signing that we'll get to later, there wasn't much doubt that the Norwegian could succeed, given how well she played in two seasons at Tottenham. Yet, that shouldn't take away from what an impactful signing she has been.

Able to fill in at right-back or thrive further forward, Bizet has added plenty of creativity and energy to the United attack, as well as a dangerous goal threat. That's helped the Red Devils secure a top-three finish again, after the disappointment of missing out on European football last term.

If it wasn't for injury, Aoba Fujino would be much further up this list. After arriving at Manchester City in the summer from Tokyo Verdy Beleza, some expected the 20-year-old to take some time to settle and, given the competition for places, have to wait patiently for her chance to break into the starting XI. Yet, this fresh-faced winger exploded into the City team immediately in what has been her first season outside of Japan.

An electric talent with a fearless attitude that helps put opponents on the back foot, the now-21-year-old also has a fantastic work ethic that complements a multi-dimensional attacking threat. What makes her signing even more worthy of inclusion in this list is that it is one for the future, with Fujino ready to torment WSL defenders for years to come - and only set to get better as she does so.

Lucy Bronze has had a fantastic first season at Chelsea. Identified by new Blues boss Sonia Bompastor as a player who could help elevate the team with her experience and quality, the Lionesses full-back has done that throughout the WSL season, forming part of one of the most impressive defences in England while standing out as one of the very best players in her position in the division.

It's hard to rank Bronze too highly on this list, because Chelsea weren't in desperate need of a right-back last summer. Yet, she has brought wonderful consistency to the role in her first season in west London, helping her new team to win a sixth-successive league title with determined defending and effective attacking play.

It's been an intriguing first season at Brighton for new head coach Dario Vidosic. The Seagulls have blown hot and cold this term, enjoying fantastic results like the entertaining 2-2 affair with eventual champions Chelsea, and some more disappointing ones such as the home draw against bottom side Crystal Palace. Still, it's hard not to feel like positives steps have been taken, with Vidosic introducing an exciting style of play and the team putting in performances that have troubled the WSL's best.

A strong summer of recruitment contributed significantly to their successes this term, with Fran Kirby, Kiko Seike and Rachel McLauchlan among those to make a real splash since signing in pre-season. It's hard not to pick out Nikita Parris as the pick of the lot, though. The striker's work ethic, intelligence in the final third and character off the pitch has all helped Brighton set an exciting foundation for next term, while also earning herself an England recall after over two years out of the picture.

There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Chelsea signed Sandy Baltimore last summer. After all, did they really need another forward? However, Bompastor cleverly repurposed the winger as a left-back and it is there where she has thrived, both as an improving defender and a deadly attacker.

That proved particularly useful when Niamh Charles, the Blues' go-to starter in that position, missed most of the first half of the season, and Baltimore built up such great momentum and form that by the time the England star was back, she was essentially second-choice. Still just 25 years old, the France international is sure to only get better with more experience in the back line, with her defending progressing remarkably well this season alone.

Another vital cog in Manchester United's bounce-back season, Elisabeth Terland has adjusted nicely to the increased pressure that comes with being the Red Devils' No.9. The Norwegian arrived in Manchester after two productive campaigns with Brighton, where she scored 20 goals in 39 games for a team that was often looking over its shoulder, and she has translated that form with relative ease.

With nine goals and five assists in 19 WSL outings, Terland has led the line brilliantly for United, providing a will to work hard that should not go under-appreciated either. Aged 23, she is only going to improve, too, especially with her set to be exposed to Champions League football next term after her goals helped to fire Marc Skinner's side back into the top three.

Liverpool had to fork out a club-record fee to sign Olivia Smith from Sporting CP last summer - but she has certainly been worth it. Only 19 years old at the time, and with just one season in Europe under her belt, some might have wondered whether she could make the step up in a league like the WSL. Anyone in that camp, though, has had their question answered emphatically in an explosive first season in red for the Canada international.

A plethora of injuries hindered Liverpool's ability to kick-on from last year's fourth-placed finish, with Smith herself the victim of some rough treatment from defenders who have struggled to keep up with her fast footwork and electric pace. However, their new No.11 has easily been one of the signings of the season, producing some wonderful moments - including a first win at Anfield for the Reds' women's team.

The only reason Smith doesn't rank higher on this list is because it's unclear just how long the club will be able to keep hold of her. They'd be delighted to get another season out of her, for sure.

Things have been tricky for Everton in the WSL in recent times. A limited budget, significant injuries and swirling rumours about a takeover have not always made Brian Sorensen's job easy, but this season has been encouraging for a Toffees side that has largely steered clear of relegation danger. Toni Payne, who joined from Sevilla last summer, has been crucial to that security.

The 29-year-old has been one of Everton's most threatening and creative forwards throughout the season, providing a valuable outlet when her team are under pressure and a direct and positive attitude to cause all sorts of issues on the counter-attack. Payne is a big reason why Everton have occupied a comfortable position in the WSL table for most of the season, and it's going to be exciting to see how her already fruitful understanding with January signing Kelly Gago blossoms further next season.

Mariona Caldentey has been one of the very best players in the WSL this season, so she would be a worthy earner of the status of 'signing of the season'.. There was plenty expected from the 29-year-old World Cup winner when she joined from Barcelona, where she lifted 22 trophies, including three Champions League titles, and she's lived up to that billing.

Only Alessia Russo, the joint-top goal-scorer in the entire division, has been directly involved in more goals for Arsenal this season than Caldentey, who has sprinkled world-class quality onto almost every game she's played for the Gunners. Whether as a winger, a No.10 or a deeper lying midfielder, the Spain star has been absolutely phenomenal all season long and she is a big reason why Arsenal fans will believe a serious title challenge is possible next term.

When the WSL hit its winter break, West Ham had won only twice and collected just eight points from their first 10 games, putting them just three points above the drop zone. Since the turn of the year, their fortunes have improved drastically, with a narrow 4-3 defeat to Arsenal in early March being followed by draws against all of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United to move the Hammers well clear of danger.

What's changed? There are several reasons for West Ham's success, and Shekiera Martinez's January arrival is certainly one of them. Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, then loaned to Freiburg for the first half of the season, it was no surprise to see Martinez recalled by West Ham after five goals in eight Bundesliga starts - a better return than any player at her parent club had managed to that point.

Since pulling on the claret and blue, Martinez has surpassed those numbers in remarkable fashion, with a dramatic late equaliser against Chelsea in March one of the best of the nine she has bagged in just 10 games. Such form earned the 23-year-old a call-up to Germany's Under-23s, that her first inclusion in a national-team squad in six years, and has generated real excitement about what she can do next term in her first full season in east London.