The transfer window in women's football has been skyrocketing, with top clubs shelling out big bucks for star players. In the past 12 months alone, $5.8m was spent globally, and that number nearly doubled to $12.3m last summer. As we head into January 2026, it's anyone's guess what will happen next.
A slew of world-class players are entering the final six months of their contracts, creating a perfect storm of uncertainty and unpredictability in the market. England's Khadija Shaw, Chelsea's Sam Kerr, and Barcelona's Catarina Macario are just a few examples of the talented athletes whose futures hang in the balance.
For some clubs, like Liverpool, January is a matter of survival. The Reds have been struggling with injuries all season, and reinforcements are desperately needed to shore up their squad. Expect them to be active in the transfer market, as will West Ham, who recently appointed new head coach Rita Guarino.
But for other clubs, particularly those in the lower half of the table, January might not bring the same level of urgency as it did in previous years. With no World Cup or Euros on the horizon, the motivation to secure first-team minutes and get into a major tournament squad is lessened. As a result, deals may be more calculated and less driven by desperation.
Arsenal and Manchester United have been busy already, with Arsenal signing Germany striker Lea Schüller and Manchester United landing Sweden right-back Hanna Lundkvist. Tottenham, meanwhile, have announced the capture of 21-year-old Matilda Nildén from Häcken, adding to their existing signings of Gaupset and Hanna Wijk.
The stage is set for a fascinating – if potentially volatile – transfer window. With so many world-class players on the move, one thing's certain: it's going to be an exciting ride.
A slew of world-class players are entering the final six months of their contracts, creating a perfect storm of uncertainty and unpredictability in the market. England's Khadija Shaw, Chelsea's Sam Kerr, and Barcelona's Catarina Macario are just a few examples of the talented athletes whose futures hang in the balance.
For some clubs, like Liverpool, January is a matter of survival. The Reds have been struggling with injuries all season, and reinforcements are desperately needed to shore up their squad. Expect them to be active in the transfer market, as will West Ham, who recently appointed new head coach Rita Guarino.
But for other clubs, particularly those in the lower half of the table, January might not bring the same level of urgency as it did in previous years. With no World Cup or Euros on the horizon, the motivation to secure first-team minutes and get into a major tournament squad is lessened. As a result, deals may be more calculated and less driven by desperation.
Arsenal and Manchester United have been busy already, with Arsenal signing Germany striker Lea Schüller and Manchester United landing Sweden right-back Hanna Lundkvist. Tottenham, meanwhile, have announced the capture of 21-year-old Matilda Nildén from Häcken, adding to their existing signings of Gaupset and Hanna Wijk.
The stage is set for a fascinating – if potentially volatile – transfer window. With so many world-class players on the move, one thing's certain: it's going to be an exciting ride.
It's crazy! I mean, I get that teams want to win and stuff, but $12m for a player? That's just wild 
. And I feel bad for the teams that are struggling, like Liverpool, they need to bring in some new talent ASAP 
️. But at the same time, it's not like these players are getting paid crazy just because they're women 
. They deserve to get compensated equally 
.
, but this one sounds like it could be super unpredictable 
. Will we see more big signings or will teams start playing it cool and waiting for the World Cup? Only time will tell 
.
. Women's football is coming up so fast, I feel like I've only just started keeping up 
. Bring on January! 
. But seriously, $12m is crazy money for one player! It makes you wonder what the actual numbers are and if its really worth it for these clubs. And the pressure on them to perform must be huge... I feel like I put too much pressure on my kid when they're not doing well in school 
. Anyway, I'm excited to see how this all plays out - can't wait to see which players end up where! 
. It's like they're trying to break some kind of record or something 
. I'm not mad, but it does make me wonder how teams are affording all this 
. Don't get me wrong, Lea Schüller was due for a upgrade and I'm glad they got her. But, for me, it feels like they're trying to make up for something 
. Just thinking about it makes me wanna scream 
!
. Like, who doesn't love seeing those big bucks being splashed around? It's like a beautiful game of musical chairs, but with more drama and less singing 
. Liverpool needs some reinforcements, though - can they pull it together or are they gonna get left in the dust? 