It can be difficult to find all the latest news on women’s soccer in one place, particularly transfer rumors. We aim to change that by providing the latest updates, the source they come from, as well as additional context about the players and details of the potential deals.
So check back here for the latest transfer rumors, news, and updates around the world of women’s soccer, including Europe’s top five leagues and the NWSL.
News items are sorted based on recency, with the latest updates coming at the top.
Is Alexia Putellas leaving Barcelona?
Details
Per a report from Diari Ara in Catalunya, Alexia Putellas is receiving highly lucrative offers from around the world, but she is still expected to stay with Barcelona.
Analysis
The Putellas rumors are nothing new, but they actually have more credibility this season than last season. Maybe Putellas does want a new challenge, and the money clubs are willing to throw at her can be tempting. However, it’s impossible to envision Putellas leaving Barcelona. She means so much to the club as a leader, an inspirational figure to the fans, and, of course, an incredible footballer who is still the absolute best player on the planet. It makes no sense for her to leave, regardless of how much money is rumored to be offered by other clubs.
PSG midfield transfer targets
Details
According to Le Parisien’s Benjamin Quarez, PSG Féminine are interested in signing Amandine Henry, Frida Maanum, and Lena Oberdorf.
Analysis
That is a who’s who of some of the best midfielders in the world. Henry spent the last season with Angel City FC in the NWSL, starting four matches and averaging nearly 10 progressive passes per game. A former star for PSG and Lyon in D1 Arkema, Henry is still going strong at the age of 34 and remains a key anchor in midfield, creating chances and driving possession forward. She can also score from range. Henry would be an economical option who can bring veteran presence.
Maanum and Oberdorf are more exciting options but potentially more difficult to sign. That said, because neither Arsenal nor Wolfsburg are in the UWCL this season, PSG reportedly see an opening. Oberdorf is one of the most touted young footballers in the world and is a real all-around force in midfield, perhaps making more decisive interventions defensively than anyone else on the planet. Maanum is an elegant, technical footballer who can still bring that defensive aspect. She had a ridiculously good 2022/23 UWCL campaign, scoring some of the loveliest goals in world football between the FA WSL and UWCL.
Nathalie Björn to Real Madrid
Details
According to Onda Madrid reporter Cristina Medina, Everton center back Nathalie Björn has agreed to move to Real Madrid Femenino in the January 2024 transfer window. However, it remains to be seen if Las Blancas have agreed to anything with the Toffees. They were previously interested in Björn this summer.
Analysis
It is no secret that Real Madrid are after significant center back help this winter in order to bolster their chances of finally going far in the UWCL. They certainly have an attack capable of shining, even without Caroline Weir, but the defense has long been a shaky spot for Las Blancas. Björn is in her prime at the age of 26 and is one of the better center backs in the FA WSL. That said, she isn’t a world-class center back, and Real Madrid may need to go for someone with more clout to truly transform a defense that remains considerably behind the competition in the advanced stages of the UWCL.
The next manager of the German women’s national team?
Details
Soccerdonna reports the current frontrunner to be the next German women’s national team manager, replacing Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, is none other than Bayern Munich sporting director Bianca Rech.
Analysis
Rech only recently became the sporting director of Bayern, and after Die Roten’s 2-1 win over main title rivals Wolfsburg, the club is clearly building something special to compete for the UWCL title. It seems highly unlikely for Rech to leave Bayern so soon, especially since their situation is more stable than the German national team’s. But the German national team job is a massive one – an opportunity many have a hard time turning down.
Sophia Kleinherne to Real Madrid
Details
Per Real Madrid Femenino beat reporter Oscar Moya Torrente, Real Madrid are interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt center back Sophia Kleinherne.
Analysis
There is a lot of outstanding young talent in the Frauen Bundesliga, and 23-year-old German defender Sophia Kleinherne is among the best up-and-coming young center backs in all of European football. Eintracht Frankfurt have assembled quite the squad in 2023/24, so Kleinherne may not be a topic for Las Blancas until after the season ends. But Real very much need immediate center back help. They have built a loaded attack, adding another world-class forward in Signe Bruun this past summer, but their defense remains behind the true UEFA Women’s Champions League title contenders in terms of quality. Kleinherne is a young talent to build a team around, having averaged well over four combined tackles and interceptions in her breakout 2022/23 campaign.
Emma Hayes to USWNT
Details
In a bombshell report, The Athletic’s top reporters Meg Linehan and David Ornstein reported that Emma Hayes will leave Chelsea at the end of the 2023/24 season in order to become the new USWNT manager.
Analysis
Talk about a shakeup. Hayes is the consensus best manager in the world. She is someone who is not afraid to challenge people to be at their best, takes accountability for her own mistakes, and truly knows her tactics. There are so many subpar (mostly male) managers in women’s football, so Hayes is helping to set the standard as the game modernizes. The USWNT has been badly stuck in the past with its recent managerial hires, and it seems like they don’t even pay attention to the players in the United States’ own league. Hayes pays attention to everything. After how poorly the USWNT played in the last World Cup, they must be proactive. There could be no better hire than Hayes.
Ewa Pajor Rumors
Details
Per journalist Joanna Tokarska, Manchester United, PSG, and other clubs around European football have tried to sign Wolfsburg’s ace striker Ewa Pajor. So far, the She-Wolves have rejected the offers, but Pajor reportedly has a release clause of 500,000 euros next summer.
Analysis
Pajor is one of the most prolific strikers in world football and only just entering her theoretical peak years at the age of 26. She was one of the best players in the entire UWCL last season, when Wolfsburg reached the Final. After losing Alessia Russo to Arsenal, Pajor could be a real splash for United. Meanwhile, PSG want to reach the very summit of European football again. Pajor could help them do just that. Hopefully, megatransfers in women’s football help keep pushing the envelope and bringing more money into the game, so that clubs invest even more of that into the women’s game.
Lineth Beerensteyn Contract
Details
Mauro Munno of JuventusNews24.com reports that the Bianconere would like to extend winger Lineth Beerensteyn’s contract.
Analysis
Although Juve recently suffered a tough blow with a 3-1 loss to last season’s Serie A champions Roma, Beerensteyn has started the season sensationally as arguably the best player in the Italian top flight. The former Bayern Munich star remains untouchable in one-on-ones, and with five goals in five matches, this is the most clinical she’s been. Extending her should be an easy decision.
Julia Grosso Contract
Details
Mauro Munno also reports that Juventus would like to extend the contract of Julia Grosso. Furthermore, they would like to include a release clause in her deal, because their main worry is losing the world-class midfielder for free.
Analysis
Grosso is one of the best young players and one of the best overall midfielders on the entire planet. The Candian international is coveted by virtually every top club in world football. She is viewed as an important building block for the Bianconere, and, ideally, they would never lose her. But if she is convinced by another project, they’d at least want to receive some sort of a transfer fee to reinvest in another great talent.
