09.09.2025 - Deadline Day Madness

Deadline Day Madness

The transfer window shut this past week for the top European leagues, with some major moves before business was concluded. Two big names transferred to the WSL. The first was United States international Alyssa Thompson, who joined WSL champions Chelsea from the NWSL team Angel City for a club record fee.

Another top player coming to the WSL was Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Grace Geyoro. The 28-year-old joins the intriguing project that is the London City Lionesses as they embark on their first season in the top flight.

Rivals Manchester United and Manchester City did business together. England international midfielder Grace Clinton joined City, while Jess Park went the other way. Both are talented, and they hope to help their teams this coming season.

WSL

The WSL 2025-26 season got underway this past season, and it was full of drama. The reigning champions got the season underway in a mouthwatering clash against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. The Blues took the lead when new signing Ellie Carpenter crossed for Aggie Beever-Jones, who finished brilliantly in the 31st minute. 

Despite City dominating for long periods of the second half, Chelsea doubled their lead thanks to Maika Hamano. City did pull one back when Niamh Charles headed into her own goal. The away team deserved something from the game, but the champions got off to a winning start. One other bit of side news: Forward Sam Kerr came on as a substitute, the first bit of action in 20 months for the prolific Australian.

Runners-up Arsenal faced newly promoted London City Lionesses. There were plenty of eyes on this game, with the noisy neighbours splashing the cash under owner Michele Kang. They got off to the best start when veteran Kosovare Asllani scored from the spot after being fouled by teenager Katie Reed.  

The away team played some excellent football in the opening 30 minutes. However, Arsenal found its groove and put on a clinic of attacking football. Olivia Smith scored on her debut after becoming the first £1 million women's player. It was a goal worth every penny, scoring from long distance. Chloe Kelly, Stina Blackstenius, and Frida Maanum added the other goals in a decisive 4-1 victory.

In the Sunday games, Merseyside will be blue until the next time Everton and Liverpool play. The Toffees won 4-1, behind a hat-trick from new signing Ornella Vignola. Manchester United won 4-0 against Leicester City, and Tottenham Hotspur secured three points against West Ham United with a late penalty. The other game saw Brighton play out a goalless draw with Aston Villa.

Women’s Bundesliga

There was a record attendance in the German Women's Bundesliga on the opening weekend. The match between FC Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at Munich's Allianz Arena was watched by 57,762 fans. Bayern president Herbert Hainer and honorary president Uli Hoeness were also in attendance to enjoy the spectacle. However, the first half was not convincing from the reigning champions. Although Bayern had their first chance to score early in the game, they remained toothless for the remaining 45 minutes. After the break, Klara Bühl came on for Lea Schüller and brought new energy to the pitch. In the 76th minute, Vanessa Gilles headed Bühl's corner into Repohl's goal. 1-0 Bayern. Shortly afterwards, in the 78th minute, Bühl scored the second goal to secure the first three points of the season for Munich. In the 81st minute, Lena Oberdorf also came on – 474 days after tearing her cruciate ligament.

Matchday 1

Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 SGS Essen
1. FC Köln 0-2 RB Leipzig
Bayern Munich 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Bremen 1-1 Freiburg
Hamburg 3-3 Wolfsburg
Union Berlin 1-1 1. FC Nürnberg
Carl Zeiss Jena 1-4 Hoffenheim

After lengthy discussions between Bundesliga clubs and the DFB, a significant change in the organisation of the German women's football league may now be on the horizon. Bundesliga clubs have voted in favour of a 'women's DFL'. A 'women's Bundesliga association' is to be founded. The aim is to create an independent organisation, similar to the men's DFL, with a focus on greater visibility, better marketing and thus higher revenues. It is to be a partially independent company, but at least 50 per cent will continue to operate under the umbrella of the DFB.

For a very long time, the DFB and the Bundesliga clubs were unable to reach an agreement. The clubs aimed to invest over half a billion euros in the development of German women's football over the next eight years, whereas the DFB proposed an investment of around 90 million euros. The clubs were not satisfied with this and even threatened to form a completely independent association. The consensus that has now been reached will be put to a vote on 7 November 2025.

Liga F

It's been a nightmare start for Real Madrid as they look to bridge the gay between them and rivals Barcelona. In fact, it is their city rivals, Atletico Madrid, who look more likely to challenge the reigning champions, if anyone can get close. Las Rojiblancas took the spoils in the Madrid Derby, beating the white team 2-1. Lauren gave the home team the lead in the 17th minute, and then the game really heated up on the hour mark. 

First, Real Madrid were reduced to ten players when Signe Bruun was sent off, having gone from heroics last week to being the villain. The away team did get back on level when Sara Däbritz scored a superb free-kick. Atletico restored their lead in the 83rd minute through Luany, making it two wins from two for Atletico, while leaving Real Madrid stuck on one point.

Barcelona were no match for Athletic Club, as they scored eight goals once again. There was a blemish this week, as they did concede to Maite Zubieta's strike. Despite all the goals, there were no hat-tricks, with Vicky Lopez, Ewa Pajor, and Aitana Bonmatí all scoring twice, while Patricia Guijarro and an own goal made up the scoring. It means Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are the only two teams with a 100% record after two games.

In the other games, Tenerife beat Sevilla 4-0 on the road, while Madrid CFF, Sociedad, and Levante Badalona all earned close wins. Espanyol and Deportivo played out a 1-1 draw, while Levante and Alhama picked up their first points of the season, drawing 0-0.

Matchday 2

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid
Sevilla 0-4 Tenerife
Espanyol 1-1 Deportivo
Madrid CCF 1-0 Eibar
Logrono 0-1 Sociedad
Granada 0-2 Levante Badalona
Athletic Club 1-8 Barcelona
Levante 0-0 Alhama

Serie A

The Serie A league season has not yet started. However, the second match day of the Serie A Women's Cup took place over the weekend. Inter, Roma and Lazio have made a confident start to the tournament, each with six points after two games. The only team without any points is AC Milan. The Milanese women lost both against Sassuolo and Roma.

Inter, who had to do without regular player Anna Serturini (cruciate ligament rupture) due to injury, faced Fiorentina in their second match. After just four minutes, Inter were already leading 2-0, and they didn't let that lead slip. After 90 minutes, the home side emerged victorious with a 3-1 win.

Surprisingly, the reigning champions lost their second game. Juventus lost 0-1 to Lazio at home in the Stadio Pozzo, La Marmora. The game in Biella was tied 0-0 for a long time, with chances on both sides. Although the experienced team led by Girelli and captain Bonansea left no stone unturned, the Bianconere were dealt a blow in the 93rd minute when Noemi Visentin put her team in the lead. Shortly afterwards, referee Riccardo Dasso blew the final whistle. New signing Lia Wälti was not yet available.

After the group stage, there will be a Final Four tournament. The top teams from each of the three groups will qualify, along with the best second-placed team.

NWSL

A few weeks ago, a German player transferred to a club in the Saudi Women's Premier League for the first time. Now, for the first time, a player from the NWSL has also made the move to Saudi Arabia. Asisat Oshoala is transferring from Bay FC to Al Hilal, where she has signed a two-year contract. She has won the Africa Cup of Nations, has been named African Footballer of the Year six times and has won the Champions League twice with FC Barcelona.

The Chicago Stars have announced that they will play next season at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston. ‘The move is a historic step for the club and a new era for the Chicago Stars,’ said Karen Leetzow, president of the club, in a press release. The Stars will move out of SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. They will play the rest of the season at that stadium – except on 7 September. They played their first game at the new stadium against Orlando Pride. And what a way for the stars to inaugurate their new home ground! The stars, who have been unable to escape the bottom of the table since the start of the season, won 5-2 against the reigning champions. Orlando fielded some big names, with record signing Lizbeth ‘The Magician’ Ovalle making her NWSL debut in this match.

Matchday 19

Bay FC 0-2 Kansas City Current
North Carolina Courage 1-1 Utah Royals
Chicago Stars 5-2 Orlando Pride
Washington Spirit 2-0 Seattle Reign
Gotham FC 3-1 Angel City
San Diego Wave 0-3 Houston Dash

At the end of last year, Alex Morgan announced the end of her career as an active footballer. At the time, she was pregnant with her second child. On 8 September 2024, she played her last game against North Carolina Courage and was substituted in the 13th minute to a standing ovation. On Sunday, her outstanding career was honoured during the match against Houston Dash: San Diego Wave FC retired her legendary number 13 shirt. Her name and number 13 now hang in Snapdragon Stadium, where she played the last two years of her career.

The California native was a two-time world champion with the US national team (2015, 2019), became an Olympic champion in London in 2012, won the NWSL championship with the Portland Thorns, and also became a French champion with Olympique Lyon, among other notable achievements. But Morgan has left her mark not only on the field, but also off it. She played a leading role in the negotiations for equal pay for the women of the American national team and, together with athletes Chloe Kim, Sue Bird, and Simone Manuel, founded ‘Together’ – a media and trading company that aims to promote women's sport.

Another huge transfer deal is set to be announced soon, as the North Carolina Courage and Gotham FC have agreed terms for Jaedyn Shaw to join the New Jersey/New York franchise. The U.S. women’s international team will earn $1.25 million, another fee that will break the current record.

Off the Pitch

Sophia Wilson and her husband, Michael Wilson, a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL, have become parents for the first time! The Portland Thorns striker announced the birth of little Gianna Capri Wilson on Instagram.