Deals done by WSL: Any transfers in January 2025

The January transfer window has officially opened and several Women's Super League (WSL) clubs have already welcomed some new faces to their ranks.

Chelsea sat comfortably top of the league as the WSL went into the winter break at the end of last year, six points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.

However, clubs have since begun to take advantage of a new opportunity to strengthen their squads with the opening of the January transfer window in a bid to climb further up the league table.

With a squad stretched by injury woes, Brian Sorensen's Everton side have done business early. Manchester City and Tottenham have also followed suit, while other clubs are still weighing up their options.

90 min take a look at all the business that has been done so far…

The Cityzens faced a stacked list of injury woes as they dragged into the Christmas period after captain Alex Greenwood underwent knee surgery. City have left no stone unturned in their quest to shore up the loss of their star defender, signing Rebecca Knaak on the opening day of the transfer window.

Knaak joins the Cityzens from FC Rosengard, where he won the Swedish Damallsvenskan league title in the 2024 season. The talismanic centre-back is a defensive wall but can also provide a real attacking threat. Knaak scored 12 goals for Rosengard in the 2024 season despite playing in the heart of the defence.

The 28-year-old will be an important addition to Gareth Taylor's City side if they are to close the gap on Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.

After struggling to get off track, Everton regained momentum leading up to Christmas as they won 2-1 at Manchester City. Sorensen's side have also given a strong account of themselves against some of the top teams, holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season.

Hanging by their fingernails, Everton are desperate for some fresh blood after losing Aurora Galli and Inma Gabarro to ACL injuries earlier in the season. The Toffees have now welcomed French striker Kelly Gago from FC Nantes.

The 26-year-old joined for an undisclosed fee and is sure to add flair to Sorensen's attack as the WSL enters the business end of the season.

Everton have been boosted further by the addition of young Spanish star Martina Fernandez. The 20-year-old joins the Toffees on loan from Champions League holders FC Barcelona.

The centre-back has been well decorated on the international stage, repeatedly winning the European Championship with the Spanish U-19 team. The promising star comes with impressive versatility, able to play as a centre-back or full-back.

Despite fans voicing their early concerns, Tottenham currently sit a strong sixth in the WSL table. Robert Vilahman's side have shown some positive signs in the early stages of the 2024/25 season, but are still feeling the loss of attacking partnership Grace Clinton and Celin Bizet, who left the club for Manchester United last summer.

However, in an attempt to mitigate that gap, they have signed Danish striker Olivia Holdt from Swedish side FC Rosengard. The 23-year-old has signed a deal that will see her in north London until 2027.

Holdt was a prolific goalscorer during her two seasons at Rosengard, scoring 25 goals in 39 appearances for the club.

Arsenal have announced that young academy star Laila Herbert has signed her first professional deal with the club after turning 18 earlier this month. Herbert is an excellent prospect for the Gunners, having most recently captained England at the U-17 World Cup last October.

Hale End has produced some great talent for the Gunners, including England captain Leah Williamson and Arsenal's 2023/24 Player of the Season Lotte Wubben-Moy.

The exciting midfielder will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the academy talent who came before him as he settles on a new deal.

In the following 90 minutes Jess Simpson, previously tipped to be sent out on loan, Manchester United have now confirmed that the 19-year-old has joined Championship side Bristol City for the remainder of the season.

Having returned from her ACL injury in the latter stages of 2024, Simpson will now have a chance to prove herself as she returns to City. The defender will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of team-mate Grace Clinton, who also spent time on loan at the Robins after signing for United in 2022.

Manchester United has confirmed the departure of another rising star, as 18-year-old Emma Watson leaves Carrington to join Everton on loan for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

The Scottish midfielder returned from an ACL injury in November, making her senior debut for the Red Devils in a 2-0 League Cup win against Everton.

Blues fans will be relieved to know this Guro Reiten has put pen to paper on a new deal to Cobham which will see him stay at the club until 2026.

The Norwegian left-winger has been an integral part of Chelsea's dominance in the league since joining the club in 2019. Reiten has scored six goals in the 2024/25 campaign so far and was named player of the month for November.

Chelsea have closed down their squad over the last week as Aniek Nouwen also signed an extension. The 25-year-old has signed a new deal that will see her stay at the club until 2026.

The defender signed for the Blues in 2021 and has made just 21 appearances for the club. Nouwen spent time on loan with Serie A side AC Milan in the second half of the 2022/23 season, before returning to Cobham in the summer.

Nouwen made just one appearance for the Blues during the 2023/24 season before devastatingly tearing her ACL while on international duty with the Netherlands Under-23s.

Chelsea have recalled striker Louna Ribadeira from her loan spell with Paris FC after signing with the Blues in the summer of 2024.

She signed a four-year deal with the WSL club after spending three years with Paris FC. After returning to France on loan for the 2024/25 season, Chelsea have now confirmed his return.

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