It's been a whirlwind few months for women's football fans, and the summer transfer window has left us all breathless! While the Men's World Cup dominated headlines throughout June and July, the women's transfer market was buzzing with high-profile deals that are set to shake up the league tables. We've seen some of the biggest names make big moves, but hidden beneath the radar were some real game-changers – and we're about to lift the lid on them.
The transfer that took everyone by surprise is Alexandra Popp's shock move to Borussia Dortmund at 35. Yes, you read that right – the German legend has joined a tier-three club after 14 years with Wolfsburg! It's clear she's not done yet, and her dedication to developing the young talent at Dortmund speaks volumes about her character. With an illustrious career featuring 112 goals in 219 games for Wolfsburg and 67 strikes in 145 appearances for Germany before her international retirement in 2024, Popp brings experience and a goal-scoring pedigree that's simply invaluable.
Tottenham Hotspur has pulled off a masterstroke by securing the services of Kirsty Hanson from Aston Villa. The 28-year-old forward was on fire last season, netting an impressive 12 goals in 22 games to finish third in the WSL scoring charts – and contributing a staggering 43% of her team's total tally! Her arrival is set to give Spurs manager Martin Ho the firepower needed to challenge for a top-four spot.
Chelsea has also been busy, snapping up Manaka Matsukubo from North Carolina Courage. The Japan international, aged just 21, can play anywhere across the front line and has already made waves with her impressive skills – scoring 11 goals and becoming the youngest NWSL player to bag a hat-trick, not to mention being crowned NWSL Midfielder of the Year in 2025! Meanwhile, Chelsea fans are still reeling from some big departures, including Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's move to OL Lyonnes, where she'll join Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten among others. It looks like a major revamp is on the cards for Chelsea as they aim to reclaim the WSL title from Manchester City.
Everton has strengthened its attacking options by signing Noémie Mouchon from Leicester, which will help soothe the blow of losing Kelly Gago to West Ham. Overseas, Ally Sentnor's blockbuster $850,000 (£635,000) trade between Kansas City Current and Angel City is set to change the face of NWSL – and Swedish forward Felicia Schröder has just made the big-time switch from Häcken to Real Madrid, reportedly for over 15 million Swedish kronor (£1.15 million), after an impressive breakout season.