Staff Writer Isabel Moon-Parry explores the recent Women’s Football transfer window and how it could be the Women’s game’s largest so far.
It’s Thursday 30th January, the transfer deadline day for Women’s football clubs in England and rumours abound over the potential transfer of some of women’s football’s most prominent stars. The morning begins with the announcement by FIFA that in 2024 there had been a record €15.6 million spent on transfers, which was up from the €6.1m spent in 2023. By the time the window closed at the end of the day, some of the biggest players in the world had a new home.
Chloe Kelly: Manchester City to Arsenal
The transfer window ended exactly 11pm for English clubs as Arsenal Women announced the signing of English winger, Chloe Kelly on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the season. The announcement concluded one of the most controversial and followed transfer saga’s in women’s football.
The relationship between Chloe Kelly and her parent club, Manchester City, had broken down in the 2024/25 season as she took to the field just 6 times in the clubs Women’s Super League campaign.
The winger, who became the face of the Lioness’ in 2022 after scoring a 110th minute goal to win the UEFA Women’s Euros against Germany at Wembley, had been critical of her treatment by Manchester City. She took to social media the day before the transfer was concluded to speak out about the situation as she said that she “just wanted to be happy again,” and that the “situation has dragged on for too long, its disappointing and not right.”
Sky Sports reported that Manchester United had made multiple approaches for Kelly, who wanted to remain in the North West, but these approaches were rejected by Manchester City which prompted Kelly’s post. An alternative loan approach from Brighton was accepted by Man City, but ultimately rejected by Kelly.
Kelly’s transfer brought her back to her childhood club and the team where she made her debut. It is hoped the move will see her get back to the form that saw her earn her place in the England team ahead of their defence of their Euro title this summer.
Keira Walsh: Barcelona to Chelsea
Also on Transfer Deadline Day, the former most expensive player in the world moved again for a significant fee, with Chelsea paying £400,000 for the English midfielder according to Sky Sports. BBC Sports however, state that according to sources in Barcelona the fee is closer to around £800,000, which if true would make Keira Walsh the second highest transfer fee of all time. Chelsea have not confirmed the exact fee.
Walsh was the previous highest transfer of all time from 2022 to 2024 when Barcelona paid Manchester City £400,000 for her signature.
Sky Sports also reported that Arsenal had been the initial front runners for Walsh’s signing but had been beaten to it by their WSL and Champions League title rivals. The move will certainly boost Chelsea’s hopes of winning their first Women’s Champions League.
While at Barcelona, Walsh had been part of the quadruple winning side in 2023/24 that won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F, Copa del Reina, and the Supercopa de Espana Femenina, playing 39 games along the way and a total of 100 games exactly while in Catalonia.
Julia Bartel and Sam Kerr to Liverpool on loan
“We’ve got the best Sam Kerr, in the league. We’ve got the best Sam Kerr, in the league,” was sung numerous times by the travelling Liverpool fans when their team faced West Ham United in the Women’s FA Cup on Wednesday night and advanced to the next round with a 5-0 away victory.
The game saw both Julia Bartel, who had signed on loan from Chelsea, as well as midfielder Sam Kerr (not to be confused with the Australian striker), who had signed on loan from Bayern Munich, take to the field. It was a memorable game for Kerr who scored her first Liverpool goal, and the fifth for the team that game.
The loan moves made by Liverpool this window have already made an impact on the side who currently sit at 7th place and manager Matt Beard will surely be hoping they can help the side move further up the table.
Kerolin: North Carolina to Manchester City
The signing of the Brazilian forward from NWSL side North Carolina Courage was announced by Manchester City on the 22nd January with the fee remaining undisclosed.
Kerolin was the winner of the NWSL Most Valuable Player award in 2023, having helped lead North Carolina to a second NWSL Challenge Cup.
Kerolin’s decision to leave the NWSL and join Manchester City was motivated by her self-proclaimed desire to “try to become the best player in the world and I know here I can be better at soccer and also learn how to play in England.”
Crystal Dunn: NY/NJ Gotham to Paris Saint-Germain
Crystal Dunn’s return to Europe was announced on January 31st when her transfer from New York to Paris for an undisclosed fee was completed.
Dunn had initially signed a three-year deal through to 2026 with Gotham after joining the club in December of 2023, however after a season without a trophy, despite reaching the playoff semi-final and finishing 3rd in the regular season, the USWNT player left the club.
Dunn has previously won the NWSL MVP award as well as the Golden Boot and most recently won the NWSL Championship in 2022 with Portland. She also won the Championship in 2018 and 2019 while with North Carolina Courage.
Jenna Nighswonger: NY/NJ Gotham to Arsenal
NY/NJ Gotham also bid farewell to another of their USWNT stars on deadline day as left-back, Jenna Nighswonger joined Arsenal for a reported £80,000.
Jenna was drafted by Gotham in 2023 from Florida State and was part of the side that won the NWSL Championship in 2023, picking up the Rookie of the Year award along the way.
Nighswonger had played less and less minutes for Gotham towards the back half of the 2024 season as a result of the signing of England’s Jess Carter.
Naomi Girma: The Most Expensive Transfer Ever
Undoubtedly the biggest and most significant transfer of all was that of Naomi Girma. It became apparent that the 24 year old defender’s transfer saga would lead to a bidding war with both Chelsea and Olympique Lyonnais in the mix for her signature.
It was revealed on the 20th January that Lyon had made a world record offer of $1m, which would have broken the record set by Rachael Kundananji’s move to Bay FC a year ago. This offer was topped by Chelsea who paid $1.1m for the defender’s signature on the 26th January. This not only broke the previous record but smashed it, as Girma became the first ever women’s player to be sold for more than $1m.
Chelsea have reason to be excited about her, and certainly have reason to have spent the big bucks on the defender who in 2023 won the US Female Soccer Player of the Year award and helped lead the USWNT to Gold at the 2024 Olympics. Legendary former Chelsea Head Coach and current Coach of the USWNT, Emma Hayes said about Girma that “She’s the best defender I’ve ever seen.”
According to The Athletic, Chelsea are determined to win the Champions League this season. With the signing of a world-class defender like Girma to bolster their super team, the prospect of a European trophy coming to Stamford Bridge seems ever closer.
