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<\/p>\nArsenal\u2019s deal for Kyra Cooney-Cross was one of the biggest moves of a record summer of WSL spending <\/p>\n
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As the women\u2019s game in England continues to grow, so do transfer fees with one Women\u2019s Super League manager describing this summer\u2019s window as \u201cwild\u201d following plenty of big spending.<\/p>\n
Fifa reported three million US dollars (\u00a32.4m) was spent during the 2023 mid-year transfer window, which was double the amount (\u00a3983,000) that women\u2019s clubs outlay across the globe in 2022.<\/p>\n
While the spending in women\u2019s football is far behind the sums chucked around in the men\u2019s game, the past 12 months in particular has seen spending rise rapidly as more funds are used following a golden period for the Lionesses.<\/p>\n
The success of Sarina Wiegman\u2019s team at the Euros and this summer\u2019s World Cup has contributed towards the WSL going from strength to strength, with clubs from the division involved in eight of the top-10 transfers in the world.<\/p>\n
Four of the biggest signings in women\u2019s football occurred this summer with Arsenalreportedly spending more than \u00a3300k to sign Australian Kyra Cooney-Cross from Hammarby on transfer deadline day and title rivals Manchester City bringing in Jill Roord from Wolfsburg for a similar amount.<\/p>\n
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Keira Walsh\u2019s \u00a3400k move from City to Barcelona last summer remains the record transfer in women\u2019s football, but Arsenal threatened to break that in January when they launched an ambitious attempt to prize away Alessia Russo from Manchester United.<\/p>\n
United stood strong and turned down a bid close to the \u00a3500k mark, but forward Russo signed on a free for Arsenal this summer anyway, with the Gunners not content there and adding World Cup star Cooney-Cross into the mix before they conceded defeat in a pursuit of England goalkeeper Mary Earps.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been by far the strongest window for WSL as a league that I have ever experienced,\u201d Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said.<\/p>\n
Eidevall is not alone in that assessment and, while City were happy just to bring in Roord, the other members of the big four flexed their muscles.<\/p>\n
The Red Devils made four signings on transfer deadline day alone, bringing in World Cup golden boot winner Hinata Miyazawa and they shelled out around \u00a3250k on Brazil forward Geyse from Barcelona.<\/p>\n
Chelsea raided France for Ashley Lawrence and Catarina Macario from Paris St Germain and Lyon respectively.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, forward Mia Fishel signed from Tigres for in excess of \u00a3150k to boost a squad full of stars with Emma Hayes\u2019 side eager to take the final step in the Champions League.<\/p>\n
Liverpool manager Matt Beard admitted: \u201cYou just look at Chelsea\u2019s transfer window and it\u2019s ridiculous. They will have players in there who won\u2019t even be named in their 25-player squad.<\/p>\n
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Chelsea have spent heavily again as they bid to retain their WSL title <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still a way from the top teams in regards to expenditure. You just need to look at the Alessia Russo deal and Arsenal looking to spend another record fee on Mary Earps etc. There is still a big gap.\u201d<\/p>\n
It would be inaccurate to state only the big four were spending in the WSL, though after Tottenham showed their ambition – and fear of relegation – when they parted with \u00a3250k to sign Bethany England from Chelsea in January.<\/p>\n
England immediately flourished, which meant Spurs\u2019 gamble to sign a player for a British record fee paid off after they avoided relegation.<\/p>\n
The \u00a3250k transfer remains the highest between WSL clubs but the other mid-table teams have enjoyed productive summers with Leicester making Janina Leitzig\u2019s move from Bayern Munich permanent.<\/p>\n
Liverpool broke their club record to bring in forward Sophie Roman Haug, while Brighton convinced two-time Champions League winner Pauline Bremer to swap Wolfsburg for the south coast and Everton made several signings after losing Gabby George to Manchester United in a \u00a3150k deadline-day deal.<\/p>\n
Managerial changes at Tottenham and West Ham saw both make some shrewd additions and newly-promoted Bristol City opted for quantity over quality.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the winners of the transfer window were Aston Villa, who purchased Ebony Salmon, Adriana Leon and Netherlands stopper Daphne Van Domselaar alongside keeping Rachel Daly.<\/p>\n
However, Villa boss Carla Ward remains perplexed by the numbers being discussed this summer, even if it shows little sign of slowing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wild. If you think about a few years ago when players were paying to play and now one transfer of Bethany England going for \u00a3250k has inflated everyone\u2019s prices,\u201d Ward explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to continue to grow off the pitch and transfer fees have to be in line with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the transfer fees branded around this summer were quite ridiculous. We got offered a crazy amount for one of our players.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have gone from your \u00a350k, \u00a360k or \u00a3100k bands, to \u00a3400k for Keira Walsh which for me is OK because she\u2019s the best midfielder in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when you\u2019re talking about \u00a3400k or \u00a3500k for players not at that level, it\u2019s mind-blowing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA director of women\u2019s football, promised some future limits on spending.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThe club\u2019s themselves have agreed that we need some cost controls because otherwise, all the money that comes in, ends up getting spent on salaries.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe women\u2019s game requires a lot more investment in infrastructure, a lot more investment in other things.\u201d<\/p>\n