The 2024-25 Women’s Super League (WSL) season kicks off this weekend and, ahead of the first round of fixtures, we take a look at some of the best business from the summer.
Much like last year, we are only including players who are new to the league, so those like Dominique Janssen (who moved to Manchester United from Wolfsburg but has previously played for Arsenal) or Vivianne Miedema (who signed for Manchester City from Arsenal) do not feature, even though both could be key to their respective teams.
Mariona Caldentey, 28, FW, Arsenal
Of all the players to move to the WSL this summer, there are few as well known as Mariona. A World Cup winner with Spain, she claimed three Women’s Champions League titles during her time with Barcelona but moved to Arsenal on a free transfer. A winger by definition, the 28-year-old is at her best when she can drift around the forward line, pulling defenders out of position to open up space for her teammates to attack. Her intelligence and reading of the game will only help the Gunners as they look to bridge the gap to Chelsea and Man City at the top of the league.
Aoba Fujino, 20, FW, Manchester City
Fast-tracked into the senior Japan squad two years ago, Fujino already has 24 caps despite being only 20 years old, and that should help ease the transition from the WE League’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza to the WSL. A creative attacker who is good on the ball, City fans can expect to see Fujino involved in the buildup more than scoring goals. But, alongside her midfield compatriot Yui Hasegawa, she could go down as one of the smarter signings for City.
Inma Gabarro, 21, FW, Everton
Able to play across the attack as well in midfield, Gabarro caught the eye for Spain during the U-20 World Cup in 2022 with her impressive goal scoring and ability to strike the ball with unerring precision. Already off the mark for the senior team, the 21-year-old was hamstrung by the glut of established talent in Spain and makes her first foray outside of Liga F by leaving Sevilla. The move to the WSL should not only give the attacker a platform to grow her game but add much needed versatility to Everton‘s attack.
Rosa Kafaji, 21, FW, Arsenal
For all the transfer activity we’ve seen in the women’s game over the last few months, there were only a handful of centre-backs moving to WSL clubs, which puts the Jamaica international in the minority. Boasting heaps of experienced from her time with the Reggae Girlz, as well as spells in the U.S., Scotland and France, Swaby should add stability to a Leicester backline that was shaky last season.
Kinga Szemik, 27, GK, West Ham United
There were only a few goalkeepers who made the switch to the WSL this summer, but West Ham United landed themselves a new No. 1. Filling the hole left behind by veteran Mackenzie Arnold, who has joined Portland Thorns FC, Poland international Szemik is an old school shot-stopper, adapt at using her 6-foot frame to repel the ball with an outstretched glove or boot.
Paula Tomás, 23, LB/RB, Aston Villa
A transfer that might have slipped under the radar for some, Aston Villa paid an undisclosed fee to sign the Spain international full-back from Levante. Tomás is comfortable on both the right and left side of the defence, is a strong one-vs.-one defender, and times her interceptions as well as she places her crosses into the box. But, unlike some of her contemporaries, she likes to cut inside when venturing into the final third rather than staying wide.
