#womens-football

#womens-football

A record 20.7m ($28.6m) was spent globally on transfers in the women's professional game in 2025 - an increase of 83.6% from 2024 - according to a report published by Fifa. There was an increase in the total number of cross-border transfers, with 2,440 completed in 2025, up 6.3% on the previous year. But the report does not take into account deals done between teams in the same league, therefore, the actual total spend would be much higher.

As this is the inaugural edition of the competition, Fifa undertook a comprehensive assessment to identify the most suitable location to launch this new event. London was selected as the optimal choice based on a range of strategic considerations. In line with Fifa's commitment to growing the women's game globally, key factors such as visibility, player experience, climate, accessibility for global fans and teams, media infrastructure, and commercial potential were thoroughly evaluated.

If anyone didn't take our ambition seriously, I hope they really do after this window, because it shows what we're pushing for. Amy Merricks was answering a question about Birmingham City breaking the second-tier transfer record to sign Wilma Leidhammar from Norrkoping, but the head coach's words could easily sum up the English January transfer window as a whole, as teams in the Women's Super League, and in WSL2, demonstrate where the financial power lies in the women's game.

Certainly. I'm going to put my personal hat on. There are over 500 bills in the US with anti-gay legislation on them. That was last year when I started researching. I say that because I also think more broadly, we all have to look at how we can continue to create different perceptions. I think sport is a powerful conduit to do that. That's just me putting my [personal] thing on.

"But these days they can play football quite well," Hoeneß said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). "Unfortunately, you can't make money from women's football in Germany, but you lose a lot of money. Even the small stadium in the campus is rarely sold out. I laugh my head off at the idea of equal pay. Equal pay would also mean equal income. But you can't make money with women's football in Germany."

Leicester City have held talks with FC Como in an attempt to sign Switzerland forward Alisha Lehmann this month. The 26-year-old joined Italian club Como - currently sixth in Serie A - on a three-year deal from Juventus in August. It is unclear whether Leicester hope to bring her in on loan or sign her on a permanent deal. Lehmann has previously played for Women's Super League clubs West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa.

If I told you I have played football for 15 years, you'd probably assume that I'm decent. Unfortunately, I am not. I have three left feet and a not-very-convincing shot on goal. Despite how many years I have put into the sport, these things show little to no improvement. I play football for the joy of it: the rush of the first whistle; the exhilaration of making a successful tackle or a clever pass;

As the first English player at FC Bayern Women, Georgia Stanway not only made history but also stole our hearts. She matured into a top European player in Munich and played a key role in the club's success in recent years with her commitment and character. We talked a lot and openly about her future, and when she told us that she now wanted to try something new, her reasons were completely understandable.

A 60-year-old man has admitted sending abusive social media messages to England footballer Jess Carter. Nigel Dewale sent the posts to Carter's TikTok account during the Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament last summer, which defending champions the Lionesses went on to win. The messages included a derogatory reference to Carter's race and suggested people with brown skin were "murderers" and "groomers".

Jess Carter has spent her life grappling with when to hold back and when to speak up; wrestling with being naturally herself, embodying the characteristics her parents instilled in her of being open, honest, vocal and confident, and subduing herself because, while society values those traits, in a black woman they can be viewed negatively. Racist stereotypes of black women as aggressive, confrontational,

We kick things off with this rather typical goal, which admittedly was not anything special. Aleksandar Pavlović passed to Leon Goretzka, who then threaded it to Serge Gnabry, who made no mistake from close range. A goal that really didn't mean too much in the grand scheme of things, but this writer included it because of the Bayern Munich connection.

"I am very happy and proud to have been part of this team for so long. The cohesion and the special atmosphere at Bayern are unique - that's exactly what makes this club so special for me. The responsibility as captain has allowed me to grow both personally and athletically over the past few years," she said. "As a team, we are very ambitious and want to remain at the top in Germany. In the Champions League, we want to take the next step and realize our full potential together."

Everyone knows about my association with this magnificent club and how much Hibs means to me. This moment is certainly up there with one of the proudest moments in my career.

Pernille Harder continues to set the benchmark in Danish football by being named the country's Player of the Year for a record ninth time in 2025. The forward received her award on Sunday ahead of FC Bayern Women's Bundesliga game against Hamburg at the FC Bayern Campus. The 33-year-old helped Bayern to a first-ever domestic double in 2024/25 and also won the Supercup

In our discussions, she impressed us and the committees with her expertise, as well as her combination of specialist knowledge, leadership strength and strategic thinking, said Oliver Mintzlaff, chair of RB Leipzig's supervisory board, in a club statement.

Yet she is only 19 years old and currently playing her third professional season. Despite her great success, anyone who talks to her hears no trace of arrogance. "I still have a lot to learn," she says with a sincerity that leaves no room for complacency. There is no doubt in her voice, but rather the knowledge that the path she is on is far from over.

A lot of hard work, but we got there, it's fantastic news for us to be celebrating. "When we launched the strategy back in 2021... we had less than 10,000 players. "We really had to look strategically at how we wanted to achieve this, what was such an ambitious target at the time, and really focusing on what resource our clubs, our leagues needed, and how we can create national programmes that inspire girls and women of all ages from all different backgrounds to take up football.

When the Olympique Lyonnais women's team officially became OL Lyonnes on 19 May, they came with a new mantra: New story, same legend. The eight-time European champions, now owned by Michele Kang and part of Kynisca a multi-club ownership group dedicated to women's sports that also already includes the Washington Spirit are a new project with the aim of developing as a women's club with our own model.

"She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League," said England boss Sarina Wiegman with a smile. And for Lucia Kendall, it wasn't far off. Wiegman was reflecting on the moment the Aston Villa midfielder sprinted off into the corner after scoring her first Lionesses goal - six minutes into their 2-0 win over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium. "They are still doing some treatment on the grass!" she added with a joke, referring to Kendall's immaculate knee slide.

As you have probably noticed we don't have the wonderful Laura Woods because she's just been taken ill but she's in very good hands so I'm stepping in at late notice,

Littlejohn was sent off in Crystal Palace's League Cup win over Leicester City on Sunday after an altercation with Hannah Cain. The 35-year-old appeared to grab Cain by the neck and the players fell to the ground in a second-half flashpoint. The Football Association has said it's standard three-match ban for violent conduct was "clearly insufficient" and it can seek an extended punishment if a case is "truly exceptional".

The AFC Women's Asian Cup heads to Australia next year, as Australia get set to host their second major women's football competition in three years after the 2023 World Cup. From March 1-21 2026, 12 nations will take part in the competition, with a total of 27 matches taking place across Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast. With nine titles under their belt, reigning champions China are the most successful team in the competition.

Players who compete in the top two levels of German women's football are four times more likely to rupture their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than their male counterparts, according to the German Football Association (DFB). The governing body has funded a central injury and illness registry in women's football for three years. So far in the Frauen Bundesliga, Germany's top flight, there have been a reported seven ACL injuries 10 games into the current campaign.

"Until a few years ago, we didn't even need somebody to do that job,"

The Australia international right-back opened the scoring against Chelsea's biggest European foe, but squandered what should have been the match-winner at Stamford Bridge. Though she missed the golden opportunity to seal victory, her contribution to the club since joining in July has elevated the side to new heights, something rather incredible given the world-class team she stepped into.

The Portuguese side started and finished strongly, with City goalkeeper Lee Gibson busy in the opening minutes. Having been under the cosh for 25 minutes, the SWPL leaders began to find some rhythm and stunned their hosts by taking the lead four minutes before the break. A deep free-kick from Lisa Evans was helped on by Kimberley Smit, with Kozlova ghosting in to finish from close range.

FC Barcelona have emerged as one of the main contenders at the 2025 Globe Soccer Awards, which will hold their sixteenth edition on 28 December at the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai. The Catalan giants appear among the favourites in almost every major category, both in the men's and women's sections. In the most prestigious category, Best Player, Barcelona are represented by Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. They will compete with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Harry Kane.