The women's world transfer record was broken four times in 2025: three times by clubs in the WSL (Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave to Chelsea in January; Olivia Smith from Liverpool to Arsenal in the summer; then Grace Geyoro from PSG to London City Lionesses). So will there be more of the same this year?
The WSL summer window opened on June 18, with the rest of Europe doing so on July 1.
Here are grades for all the major transfers in the European women's game, with each listed in order of date and then highest fee.
All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.
July 21
Alice Sombath
Undisclosed
OL Lyonnes: C
Spurs: A
Spurs have signed yet an another impressive player this summer, this time for a club-record fee of over £375,000. Sombath brings plenty of experience, having won the UEFA Women's Champions League and collected eight domestic trophies, to a Spurs team that already look ready to challenge the established elite. For a team that want to build out from the back under Martin Ho, Sombath is the perfect signing.
OL Lyonnes have lost a key part of their future planning by letting the 22-year-old leave. Following their UWCL final capitulation at the hands of Barcelona, the team need a refresh, but that shouldn't include one of their brightest young defenders. - EK
July 20
Melvine Malard
£850,000 ($1.4M)
Manchester United: B+
Chelsea: A
Malard, 26, is considered one of the best forwards in the game and had accrued 21 goal contributions in 57 appearances over three seasons with United. But such a large fee was hard to turn down given United wanted to avoid losing her on a free transfer as she was in the last year of her contract, and the club will look to reinvest the money back into the squad.
Chelsea needed attacking reinforcements after the exit of Sam Kerr and Malard brings experience and nous up front. She knows the WSL and should be an excellent signing as the Blues look to reclaim their crown back from Man City. - EK
Mao Itamura
Undisclosed
Feyenoord: B+
Liverpool: A
Itamura was voted the best player in the Vrouwen Eredivisie last season, finishing with eight goals and six assists in the competition at just 19 years old. The diminutive player propelled Feyenoord to a third-place finish, earning them a European spot for the first time, but the pain of losing a talented youngster is eased by the club-record fee they fetched for a player with only one year left on her contract.
The Japan starlet is comfortable with both feet, can score, create, and is versatile enough to play on the flanks or as an attacking midfielder. Gareth Taylor's side struggled to score goals last season and lacked a supporting cast around Beata Olsson and Ceri Holland, so the arrivals of Vivien Endemann and Itamura should help reinforce that department.
Itamura's adaptation to a new country and team will be helped by the presence of Fuka Nagano and Toko Koga, as well as a possession-based system that will help her showcase her talents against tougher opponents. - YT
July 15
Kadidiatou Diani
€586,000 (£500,000; $670,000)
OL Lyonnes: C
London City Lionesses: B
In a controversial transfer from OL Lyonnes to sister-club London City, Diani has swapped one of Michele Kang's ventures for another. It is a huge loss for Lyonnes who have been domestically dominant for years, especially so since Diani's move in 2023, but the team have failed to reach the same level of European supremacy as in the past and are looking at younger profiles, which likely led to her exit.
Following Leon and Putellas' transfers from Barcelona, Kang is attempting to build a European juggernaut overnight and is pouring significant resource into her newest acquisition. And London City's offer of a three-year deal is an attractive prospect for a 31-year-old who narrowly missed out on two UWCL titles. Individual quality doesn't necessarily created a well-oiled machine capable of challenging the established elite, though, so Diani is at risk of ending her playing career without ever claiming the coveted UWCL trophy. -- EK
July 14
Lisa Baum
€600,000 (£511,000; $803,000)
RB Leipzig: B
Arsenal: A-
Leipzig finished 10th in the Frauen Bundesliga last season with a fairly young squad and Baum was one of the standouts in an underwhelming campaign. The 19-year-old lit up the field with her creativity on the ball, was their joint top scorer in the league and had the second-most goal contributions for Leipzig last season (39). Losing a potential marquee player is difficult, but a fee of €600,000 seems like a good compensation.
Baum's arrival boosts Arsenal's attacking options. The versatile Germany winger can play on either side of the pitch, is extremely direct, has flair in one-vs.-one situations and has good line-breaking vision with the ball. Her athleticism will add another dimension and flexibility to Renee Slegers' attack following Beth Mead's departure. - YT
July 13
Khiara Keating
Free
Manchester City: B-
Liverpool: A
Keating has barely seen the pitch this season as she has been a backup to Ayaka Yamashita, so it's a good move for her and could get her back into contention for England after she lost her place due to lack of game time. City were powerless to stop her leaving at the end of her contract, but will need to sign another backup to Yamashita who has had a couple of injuries.
Liverpool needed a No. 1 after Sweden star Jennifer Falk's loan move from BK Häcken ended and no permanent move was agreed. Liverpool boss Taylor handed Keating her WSL debut in 2023-24 while at City, so it's no surprise he brought her in and it should work out well. - EK
Mapi Leon
Free
Barcelona: B
London City Lionesses: A
Barcelona have lost another player who formed the spine of their recent successes. The 31-year-old is one of the best ball-playing center backs around and her partnership with Irene Paredes has been pivotal for the club over the years. Now Pere Romeu's side will need to find a fresh center-back pairing, and soon.
London City continue to add quality and depth across the field, and gain an instant boost to their ball-playing capabilities with the arrival of Leon. She loves driving forward with the ball, often taking up aggressive positions in possession, and has an excellent reading of the game to stop opposition attacks.
While her advanced positioning and declining recovery pace see her sometimes caught out when playing in a high defensive line, she is still one of the top defenders around. Her fine set-piece deliveries add to her value on the ball, making her a valuable addition. - YT
July 10
Niamh Charles
£500,000 ($670,000)
Chelsea: B-
Man City: A-
Charles is the latest of former manager Emma Hayes' players to depart the club, as Chelsea are undergoing a bit of a transformation with Sonia Bompastor looking to make her mark on the team. But the Blues lose a promising left back who has shown plenty of versatility in defense, and in letting her join Manchester City they have strengthened a direct rival.
City needed a replacement for Ouahabi and were keen to reinforce the squad ahead of their impending Champions League campaign, making it a positive move for the club -- even if they did spend a reported £500,000 to make it happen. Charles wanted to stay in England and play in the Champions League, so she has also achieved her wishes. - EK
Ona Batlle
Free
Barcelona: C
Arsenal: B+
Barcelona are facing an exodus of their core squad, including Batlle who returns to England after a previous spell with Manchester United. It is a heavy loss for Barça, who now need to plug several gaps but do have an unrivalled conveyor belt of young talent coming through their academy.
Arsenal already have two right backs in USWNT's Emily Fox and young Sweden star Smilla Holmberg, but McCabe's departure leaves a space at left back to be filled. Could Batlle, who is versatile, shift flanks? Her experience is also unrivalled, which will add some leadership back into the team after they lost two key figures in the dressing room (McCabe and Beth Mead). It is a positive move for the Gunners, but the high competition in the starting XI could cause some headaches for coach Renee Slegers to figure out. -- EK
July 8
Alexia Putellas
Free
Barcelona: C
London City Lionesses: A+
Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, decided to leave Barcelona on a free transfer after 14 trophy laden seasons. She made over 500 appearances, won four UWCL titles and 10 league titles, and scored 232 goals, which made her the second-highest goal scorer (men or women) in Barcelona's history behind Lionel Messi. The 32-year-old is still easily one of the most impactful midfielders in the game and will leave a massive void in a talented Barcelona squad. So it's a shock she departs for nothing.
London City have done incredibly to land her and continue their ambitious project to build a team that can challenge for titles. Putellas instantly becomes one of the best players in the WSL and should propel the Lionesses to new heights. With her ability to dictate games, break down defenses with her unparalleled quality on the ball, and be decisive in big moments, she will bring a whole new fanbase to the club. -- YT
Géraldine Reuteler
Free
Eintracht Frankfurt: C
Arsenal: A
Arsenal struggled with a lack of depth to compete on all fronts in the 2025-26 season, so the versatile Reuteler, who can play anywhere across the front line, is the perfect addition. The 27-year-old is in her peak years and has been key for Frankfurt and Switzerland -- she finished as the fourth-highest goal contributor for her club last season (seven goals and six assists).
For Frankfurt, it feels like an all-too-familiar move when another big club comes calling. Reuteler played the most minutes, recorded the joint-most assists and ranked third for goal contributions for Frankfurt across the last two seasons. The team will be worse without her. - YT
July 6
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd
€600,000 (£511,000; $803,000)
Chelsea: B+
OL Lyonnes: B
Sweden international Johanna Ryttig Kaneryd's time at Chelsea had trophies but her individual performances were inconsistent for large parts of it. After a stupendous tally of 10 assists in all competitions during the 2023-24 season, she struggled to replicate that in the later seasons. In 2025-26, she only managed two goals and two assists over 19 games. A match winner on her day but those days became far few in between.
OL Lyonnes get yet another attacking player but the squad composition lacks clarity. While there isn't a dearth of talent, there seems to be a lack of balance. Plenty of attacking depth and quality but a lack of control and balance in the midfield was an evident problem last season only amplified with the departure of Lindsey Heaps, that area remains unaddressed so far this window.
Kaneryd continues to be an enigmatic talent. Giraldez is spoilt for attacking choices but the choices seem to lack a coherent vision. - YT
Selina Cerci
Free
Hoffenheim: C+
Arsenal: A-
The Germany international forward joins Arsenal on a two-year deal with an option for another year, after two incredibly productive years at Hoffenheim where she scored 32 goals and provided 12 assists.
Failing to extend Cerci was a failure for Hoffenheim, but being unable to fetch a fee for her transfer stings even more. The 26-year-old had the most goal contributions in the Frauen Bundesliga, ahead of the likes of Pernille Harder and Klara Buhl, and was directly responsible for 52% of Hoffenheim's goals this season, powering them to a fourth-place finish.
Arsenal continue to add depth and quality across the board as they aim to compete on all fronts after a disappointing 2025-26 season. The former Potsdam striker is versatile enough to play across the front line and adds much-needed goals, while the variety in her goal scoring makes her suitable for various situations during the season. While the positional fit remains to be seen, Cerci adds quality to the squad and it helps she's a lifelong Arsenal fan herself. -- YT
July 3
Manaka Matsukubo
Undisclosed
NC Courage: B-
Chelsea: A
Chelsea announced a shock move for one of the NWSL's best young talents, and the 21-year-old Japan international joins on a five-year deal.
Matsukubo won the NWSL Midfielder of the Year award in 2025 -- she had 15 goal contributions, when no other player had five -- and already has five goals and four assists to her name in the current season. Though her contract was up at the end of this year and the transfer allows the Courage to secure a fee, her exit leaves a big void in the squad midway through the campaign.
After missing out on signing Khadija Shaw (signed a new contract at Man City) and Felicia Schroder (joined Real Madrid), while also losing Sam Kerr amid uncertainty around Mayra Ramirez, Chelsea desperately needed a goal scoring option.
Although Matsukubo is a different mold of forward than her predecessors, less physical and more mobile, her movement allows her to be effective in a variety of situations. Playing in the hole behind a central striker will open up different avenues for Chelsea to try and certainly alleviates some of their worries around goal scoring. -- YT
Georgia Stanway
Free
Bayern Munich: B
Arsenal: A-
Stanway's impending move to Arsenal was the worst-kept secret of last season. The Gunners began working on signing the 27-year-old England midfielder last summer and spent much of the winter window negotiating a pre-contract agreement to bolster their struggles when her contract expired.
Arsenal have faced significant issues with rotation and depth this season, as evidenced by their lack of bench options and overuse of players like Kim Little. The Gunners have been searching for a long-term replacement for their captain for several seasons -- a hard ask for a player so capable even at 36 -- but Stanway is a great option.
The defensive midfielder is experienced and reliable, but with other signings and the inconsistent positioning of Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey complicating the midfield selection choice, it is hard to predict how well the move will serve both player and club.
It is a tough blow for Bayern Munich, but with almost a year to plan for her departure, the German club should have already found her replacement, making it a slightly easier adjustment. - EK
June 29
Sam Kerr
Free
Chelsea: B-
Gotham FC: A-
Chelsea will look significantly different without Kerr, as the Australia striker has become synonymous with the club and its success. However she hasn't been as impactful for the Blues since her ACL in 2024 left left her on the sidelines for 22 months, and she only returned this season. Naturally, given she is 32, the club were always looking for an alternative but her goal-scoring prowess is almost impossible to replicate, which leaves many fans wondering whether keeping a half-fit Kerr would be better than finding a replacement that needs time to adjust.
It is a great move for Gotham, who have pinched several of Chelsea's departing players and are looking to climb back to the top of the NWSL. Even with her age and injury history, the caliber Kerr brings to a team is worth every penny of her wages.
June 25
Victoria Pelova
Free
Arsenal: A
Spurs: A+
Had this been a transfer two seasons ago, Arsenal would have been silly to let the midfielder leave following her exceptional 2024-25 season. However, her ACL injury in the summer of 2025 derailed her progression with the team, limiting her to just 30 appearances last season, the majority coming off the bench. Arsenal needed a facelift this season, and Pelova no longer fit the system despite being a key player when she first joined. Moving her on makes space for another, better-suited player to fill her boots, even if that transfer strengthens a local rival.
You might see it a lot in this file, but it is an exceptional move for Spurs, yet again, and they are building a powerhouse unit. Pelova adds experience, versatility, depth and control to the midfield in a defensive role as well as creativity and intelligence in an attacking position and will vastly add to Spurs' plans to compete for top three. It is a good move for all parties involved. -- EK
June 23
Felicia Schröder
Undisclosed
BK Hacken: C
Real Madrid: A+
Real Madrid signed Schröder for what BK Hacken claimed is a world-record fee in excess of $1.5 million, although that record is highly debated.
The 19-year-old won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Europa Cup, scoring a hat trick in the final, finished the 2025 season as the top goal scorer in Damallsvenskan with 30 goals, and was voted Damallsvenskan player of the year. The Sweden international has many good attributes: She is explosive, plays well on the last line of a defense and strikes the ball well. However, her standout trait is her excellent instincts in the penalty box, with a great sense for timing her runs.
Real Madrid are signing one of the best young talents in women's football. After big departures this summer and inconsistent striker options, Madrid were badly in need of goals, and Schröder is a great solution. She should form the core of a young attacking front alongside Linda Caicedo and Lotte Keukelaar.
For BK Hacken, losing one of their top stars is not uncommon. They have unearthed plenty of gems before, but Schröder was their crown jewel. -- YT
June 18
Shekiera Martinez
Undisclosed
West Ham: C
Tottenham: A+
Martinez burst onto the scene after signing in January 2025, and scored 10 goals to end the Golden Boot race in third despite only playing 12 games that season. But with West Ham battling against relegation all of last year, and with the men's team dropping to the Championship, it was always going to be a tough ask for the club to hold on to their star attacker.
Sources said that Manchester City considered signing her when it looked like they might lose Khadija Shaw. But Tottenham got there first and Martinez slots right in following the departure of veteran Bethany England, as she will rotate with Cathinka Tandberg up front to lead the goal-scoring charge. Martinez has already shown what she can do with the right setup and her signing will inch Tottenham closer into that top-four category. -- EK
Kirsty Hanson
Undisclosed
Aston Villa: C
Tottenham: A
Another impressive move for Spurs. The former Manchester United and Aston Villa winger has plenty of experience and often ranks among the top players in her teams for goals each season -- she finished third last year in the Golden Boot race -- and will add depth and composure to the front line.
It is bad news for Villa, who have lost one of their major attacking outlets and will now need to rebuild ahead of next season without such a prominent figure. Villa have struggled since their fifth-place finish in 2022-23, and losing such a vital part of their attack will only stunt their progression next season given they have a limited budget to replace the winger. -- EK
Katie McCabe
Free
Arsenal: C-
Chelsea: A
Losing a veteran defender is one thing; losing a veteran defender who has played almost every position on the pitch, has served the club for over a decade, and was part of the leadership group, to a direct title rival for nothing is downright bad business. The fact that Arsenal tried to backtrack in the final weeks of McCabe's contract to try and entice the Republic of Ireland captain to stay says all you need to know. Arsenal were always facing an overhaul of their squad, but some players are irreplaceable and McCabe is one of them.
Chelsea have added a competent and stalwart defender to their ranks, and have weakened their biggest domestic rival in the process. That alone deserves an A grade. But it was Chelsea's ability to make McCabe feel wanted, as they offered a long contract to the 30-year-old, that also deserves plaudits. - EK
Beth Mead
Free
Arsenal: B
Manchester City: B+
Mead always looked close to leaving Arsenal after almost joining London City last season, but she leaves a large gap to fill. She has been one of the top scorers and chance creators for Arsenal for almost a decade and, even during her final season, proved to be one of Arsenal's most reliable attackers. After all, she did set up that historic Champions League winning goal for Stina Blackstenius. But the 31-year-old believed she had more to give, and Arsenal's offer simply didn't match her expectations.
Manchester City saw more value in giving a longer-term deal to the England winger, and she joins her partner Vivianne Miedema at the newly crowned champions. City made a savvy move to snap her up on a free. - EK
July 1
Elisa Senss
€200,000 ($230,000)
Eintracht Frankfurt: B-
Real Madrid: A-
Senss was a key member for a Frankfurt side that finished third behind Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg in Germany last season. She was a mainstay in the XI, playing 45 of the club's 48 league games across the last two seasons, and is at her peak at 28 years old.
However, while she is a quality addition, Senss doesn't directly address Madrid's shortcomings in midfield. The Spanish giants have longed for a ball progressor in central areas and have also just lost the best player in their history: Caroline Weir.
Senss is capable of playing deeper, has a good reading of the game and is robust in her duels. However she isn't known for her goal-scoring abilities and is often partnered with another player to reduce the defensive strain on her as a lone pivot. Madrid's midfield often lacks control, and her stylistic fit remains to be seen. - YT
Mary Earps
Free
PSG: A
London City: B
Having had a pretty rough time in Paris, with the club failing to get out of the UWCL league phase last season, Earps is in need of a change to salvage the last part of her career, after facing backlash following her shock international retirement and release of her book.
Regardless, Earps is a household name and for a club that wants to build its fanbase, bringing in Earps will bring supporters to the ground. It is a good move for London City, who also need to bolster their squad ahead of the new season. But it is no real loss for PSG, who are due a refresh following their poor season. - EK
Caroline Weir
Free
Real Madrid: C
OL Lyonnes: B+
Real Madrid have lost one of their most important playmakers. Though they've thrown everything at keeping forward Linda Caicedo until 2031, Weir's exit on a free transfer leaves their attacking depth thin and rather mismatched. It is a huge loss for the team ahead of a challenging season in Spain.
However, it is a great grab for OL Lyonnes. Off the back of the 4-0 humbling in the Champions League final, the French side had a lot of work to do to improve their squad despite already boasting some of the best depth in Europe. Their issue isn't individual quality, but how to harness the talents within the squad and although the 30-year-old Weir is regarded as one of the best in the world, the move will only work if Lyonnes are flexible enough to build around her. - EK
Leila Ouahabi
Free
Man City: A
Chicago Stars: B
City weren't offering Ouahabi a new deal, so it is no loss for a side who have retained the services of Alex Greenwood and recently added Iman Beney to their ranks.
Therefore it is a strange move for Chicago to offer Ouahabi a three-year deal, with the Spain left back already 33. Chicago have been a struggling ship in the NWSL for some time; they finished last season bottom of the table and are only two points ahead of Racing Louisville in 16th this season. Ouahabi will add some depth and security at the back, but her addition will hardly eradicate their glaring issues. - EK
Caitlin Dijkstra
Free
Wolfsburg: B
Tottenham: A
Tottenham's impressive talent stacking from last summer has continued, as they added experienced defender Dijkstra to the ranks for nothing. It is an impressive signing and though Spurs improved defensively from the previous season, they still struggled at the back, with defensive lapses and needless goals making their campaign tougher than it needed to be. The 27-year-old's wealth of experience, as well as her composure and calmness, make her a perfect addition to the team.
It is a familiar sight for Wolfsburg, who struggle to hold on to their key players more than most clubs. Not only do the German side need to plug gaps left by attackers this summer, but now they need to replace Dijkstra. - EK
Vivien Endemann
Free
Wolfsburg: B-
Liverpool: A
One of the biggest weaknesses of Gareth Taylor's side in their battle against relegation was their lack of goal threat; the club's top goal scorer finished with six goals (Beata Olsson) and Endemann's arrival should help address this. The German winger is comfortable with both feet, can play across the front line and most importantly can score and assist. She will also look to fill the void left by the departure of Olivia Smith and can raise the ceiling of this Liverpool side, but will probably need an adaptation period.
Again, Wolfsburg have lost another key performer in attack. Only three players have played more games than the 24-year-old in the last two seasons for Wolfsburg and she averaged 0.64 goal contributions per 90 last season in the Frauen Bundesliga. The two-time UWCL winners are looking at a hard transition next season. - YT