The WSL January transfer window has come and gone, and here SheKicks grades each of the clubs on their business, with Chelsea the only club not to sign any players.
Grading each WSL club on their January transfer window business
Arsenal
In: Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby and Barbora Votikova on loan from Sparta Prague
Out: Jessie Gale to Bristol City on loan, Laila Harbert to Everton on loan and Jenna Nighswonger to Aston Villa on loan
It has been a quiet WSL January transfer window for Arsenal, who have signed Swedish full-back Smilla Holmberg and former Tottenham goalkeeper Barbora Votikova on loan.
Holmberg is one of the most promising young full-backs in European football but is unlikely to make an immediate impact, as she will mostly be playing a back-up role to Emily Fox this season.
Arsenal fans may have hoped for more from the winter window but they are already on their way to an A+ for their summer transfer window grade. Arsenal could sign Georgia Stanway and Barcelona defender Ona Batlle on free transfers.
It will be a big few months for the Gunners with Katie McCabe among 10 key players out of contract this summer.
Grade: C+
Aston Villa
In: Oriane Jean-Francois from Chelsea for £450,000 and Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal on loan
Out: Sarah Mayling to Leicester City on loan and Katie Robinson to Bristol City
Aston Villa made one of the biggest signings of the window with the £450,000 addition of Oriane Jean-Francois.
Jean-Francois is a calm and composed midfielder who will play a key role at Aston Villa, after struggling for minutes at Chelsea.
The loan signing of Jenna Nighswonger could also be a shrewd piece of business. Nighswonger was influential for Gotham FC before she struggled for minutes at Arsenal.
Grade: B-
Brighton & Hove Albion
In: Olivia Garcia from HB Koge and Olaug Tvedtan from Valerenga
Out: Michelle Agyemang to Arsenal (loan ended), Jorelyn Carabali to Boston Legacy, Olivia Garcia to AIK on loan and Melina Loeck to Hammarby (loan extended)
Brighton were left frustrated in their pursuit for a striker to replace Michelle Agyemang, who was recalled by Arsenal after her ACL injury.
Olaug Tvedtan will offer goals from midfield, after netting 55 goals in 131 appearances for Valerenga.
American forward Olivia Garcia also joins the club, but she was immediately loaned out to Swedish club AIK.
Grade: D
Chelsea
In:
Out: Ashanti Akpan to Newcastle, Mara Alber to Werder Bremen on loan, Oriane Jean-Francois to Aston Villa for £450,000 and Maika Hamano on loan to Tottenham
Disappointing window for Chelsea, who have fallen back in the WSL title race and, unlike their rivals, have not strengthened their squad.
Chelsea were linked with Trinity Rodman before she signed a record deal with the Washington Spirit.
Perhaps their most likely signing was PSG’s Jennifer Echegini, however, Chelsea were turned down by the French club.
Bompastor lamented Chelsea’s lack of depth after their 5-1 defeat to Manchester City.
The under-pressure Chelsea boss will be frustrated by their inability to sign players, while also losing depth with the departures of Jean-Francois and Hamano.
Grade: E
Everton
In: Hannah Blundell from Manchester United on loan, Laila Harbert from Arsenal on loan and Zara Kramzar on loan from AS Roma
Out: Katie Robinson (returned to Aston Villa after loan)
Solid though unspectacular window for the Toffees who are keen to pull themselves out of the relegation fight.
Hannah Blundell adds experience and will likely play a lot of football after Karen Holmgaard suffered an ACL injury last month.
Laila Harbert, 19, and Slovenian international Zara Kramzar, 20, are both exciting prospects for the future but it remains to be seen how they will fit into the squad this season.
The downside for Everton is that their relegation rivals, Liverpool, West Ham, and Leicester, all did more business during the transfer window. If the Toffees fall into trouble, then it could be their relative lack of business that could be the determining factor.
Grade: C
Leicester City
In: Emma Jansson from FC Rosengard, Alisha Lehmann from Como, Sarah Mayling from Aston Villa on loan, Ashleigh Neville from Tottenham and Rachel Williams from Manchester United
Out: Janice Cayman to PSV, Hlin Eiriksdottir to Fiorentina on loan, Emilia Pelgander to HB Koge on loan and Simone Sherwood to Sheffield United on loan
Leicester City have slipped into the WSL relegation battle, so it was no surprise to see them bring in some experienced faces this month.
Ashleigh Neville, Sarah Mayling and Rachel Williams are astute signings who will help the Foxes bring the fight. It will be interesting to see how Alisha Lehmann fares on her WSL return after a tough spell in Italy.
The influential Janice Cayman has left the club as she desired to play European football and will be missed.
Grade: C+
Liverpool
In: Alice Bergstrom from BK Hacken, Aurelie Csillag from SC Freiburg, Jennifer Falk from BK Hacken on loan, Anna Josendal from Hammarby, Denise O’Sullivan from North Carolina Courage for £300,000 and Martha Thomas from Tottenham on loan
Out: Rafaela Borggrafe to Bayer Leverkusen on loan, Leanne Kiernan to Nottingham Forest on loan and Emilia Szymczak to Barcelona (loan ended)
It has been a tough season for Liverpool but they have given themselves a real chance of getting out of the WSL danger zone with an excellent transfer window.
Denise O’Sullivan is one of the best signings of the window, while Jennifer Falk, on loan, is a shrewd addition in goal.
Martha Thomas scored in Liverpool’s first WSL win of the season, while Alice Bergstrom and Aurelie Csillag already look like they can contribute to the Reds. Anna Josendal has been injured, but had six goals and six assists with Hammarby last season, so is also an exciting signing.
Grade: A+
London City Lionesses
In: Delphine Cascarino from San Diego Wave and Malou Marcetto from Madrid CF
Out: Sophie Hillyerd to Watford on loan, Sofia Jakobsson to Toluca, Lotta Lindstrom to Birmingham City on loan and Katie Zelem to West Ham on loan
A quieter WSL January transfer window for the London City Lionesses after a manic summer spree.
However, the signing of Delphine Cascarino is one of huge intent, bringing one of the best wingers in world football to the club. Cascarino has plenty of winning experience with six Champions League trophies.
Malou Marcetto was a consistent performer for Madrid CF and the 22-year-old will add depth to London City’s midfield.
Grade: B+
Manchester City
In: Sam Coffey to Manchester City for £650,000
Out: Tara O’Hanlon to Celtic on loan and Poppy Pritchard to Celtic on loan
For a team that is 10 points clear in the WSL title race, it would be hard to find a player who is capable of strengthening the first XI in the January transfer window.
However, City have done just that with the club record £650,000 addition of Sam Coffey.
It is the standout signing of the window and Coffey’s partnership with Yui Hasegawa will make life even tougher for their WSL opponent.
Grade: A-
Manchester United
In: Hanna Lundkvist (free agent, previously San Diego Wave), Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich and Ellen Wangerheim from Hammarby
Out: Hannah Blundell to Everton on loan, Geyse to Club America, Mared Griffiths to Sunderland on loan and Rachel Williams to Leicester City
An excellent window for Manchester United, who are improving all the time in the WSL.
They have brought in plenty of firepower in Lea Schuller and Ellen Wangerheim. Schuller netted 104 goals in 180 appearances for Bayern Munich, while 21-year-old Wangerheim scored 65 goals in 138 games for Hammarby.
Hanna Lundqvist will also provide competition at right-back and already has one goal and one assist in her opening three WSL appearances.
Grade: A
Tottenham Hotspur
In: Signe Gaupset from SK Brann for £378,000, Matilda Nilden from BK Hacken, Hannah Wijk from BK Hacken, Julie Blakstad from Hammarby and Maika Hamano on loan from Chelsea
Out: Anna Csiki to Roma on loan, Kit Graham to Ipswich City on loan, Ashleigh Neville to Leicester City and Martha Thomas to Liverpool on loan
Tottenham had a strong WSL January transfer window, with Signe Gaupset one of the standout signings of the window.
Julie Blakstad has also returned to the WSL and is expected to make a big impact at Tottenham this season.
Hannah Wijk, 22, and Matilda Nilden, 21, are exciting prospects for the future, while Maika Hamano adds depth to Tottenham’s midfield for the second-half of the campaign.
Grade: A
West Ham United
In: Ria Bose from Sporting, Estelle Cascarino from Juventus on loan, Rebekah Dowsett from Watford, Tuva Hansen from Bayern Munich, Ylinn Tennebo from Valerenga and Katie Zelem from London City Lionesses on loan
Out: Anna Csiki (returns to Tottenham on loan), Anouk Denton to Bay FC for £200,000, Rebekah Dowsett to Nottingham Forest on loan, Manuela Pavi to Deportivo Toluca and Amber Tysiak to Union Berlin for £150,000
Busy transfer window for West Ham as they look for an improved second half of the season under new boss Rita Guarino.
Tuva Hansen brings experience and quality to West Ham’s defence, while Ylinn Tennebo and Katie Zelem could prove to be astute signings.
Delphine Cascarino’s sister Estelle had an inauspicious start after she was denied her West Ham debut because she was wearing an earring. However, she has since had solid performances against Leicester City and Tottenham.
Grade: B
Who was the winner of the transfer window?
Tottenham and Manchester United both impressed with their business during the January transfer window.
Manchester City and London City Lionesses were quieter, but signed big-name players in Coffey and Cascarino.
However, it is bottom-of-the-table Liverpool who arguably enjoyed the best WSL transfer window.
Out of any WSL club, Liverpool have perhaps done the most to turn around their season and should see the biggest improvement. If they can’t improve, though, then Gareth Taylor’s position as head coach will come under serious pressure.
