The women's world transfer record was broken four times in 2025: three times by clubs in the WSL (Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave to Chelsea in January; Olivia Smith from Liverpool to Arsenal in the summer; then Grace Geyoro from PSG to London City Lionesses). So will there be more of the same this year?
The WSL summer window opened on June 18, with the rest of Europe doing so on July 1.
Here are grades for all the major transfers in the European women's game, with each listed in order of date and then highest fee.
All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.
Barcelona: C London City Lionesses: A+
Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, decided to leave Barcelona on a free transfer after 14 trophy laden seasons. She made over 500 appearances, won four UWCL titles and 10 league titles, and scored 232 goals, which made her the second-highest goal scorer (men or women) in Barcelona's history behind Lionel Messi. The 32-year-old is still easily one of the most impactful midfielders in the game and will leave a massive void in a talented Barcelona squad. So it's a shock she departs for nothing.
London City have done incredibly to land her and continue their ambitious project to build a team that can challenge for titles. Putellas instantly becomes one of the best players in the WSL and should propel the Lionesses to new heights. With her ability to dictate games, break down defenses with her unparalleled quality on the ball, and be decisive in big moments, she will bring a whole new fanbase to the club. - YT
Arsenal struggled with a lack of depth to compete on all fronts in the 2025-26 season, so the versatile Reuteler, who can play anywhere across the front line, is the perfect addition. The 27-year-old is in her peak years and has been key for Frankfurt and Switzerland -- she finished as the fourth-highest goal contributor for her club last season (seven goals and six assists).
For Frankfurt, it feels like an all-too-familiar move when another big club comes calling. Reuteler played the most minutes, recorded the joint-most assists and ranked third for goal contributions for Frankfurt across the last two seasons. The team will be worse without her. - YT
Sweden international Johanna Ryttig Kaneryd's time at Chelsea had trophies but her individual performances were inconsistent for large parts of it. After a stupendous tally of 10 assists in all competitions during the 2023-24 season, she struggled to replicate that in the later seasons. In 2025-26, she only managed two goals and two assists over 19 games. A match winner on her day but those days became far few in between.
OL Lyonnes get yet another attacking player but the squad composition lacks clarity. While there isn't a dearth of talent, there seems to be a lack of balance. Plenty of attacking depth and quality but a lack of control and balance in the midfield was an evident problem last season only amplified with the departure of Lindsey Heaps, that area remains unaddressed so far this window.
Kaneryd continues to be an enigmatic talent. Giraldez is spoilt for attacking choices but the choices seem to lack a coherent vision. - YT
The Germany international forward joins Arsenal on a two-year deal with an option for another year, after two incredibly productive years at Hoffenheim where she scored 32 goals and provided 12 assists.
Failing to extend Cerci was a failure for Hoffenheim, but being unable to fetch a fee for her transfer stings even more. The 26-year-old had the most goal contributions in the Frauen Bundesliga, ahead of the likes of Pernille Harder and Klara Buhl, and was directly responsible for 52% of Hoffenheim's goals this season, powering them to a fourth-place finish.
Arsenal continue to add depth and quality across the board as they aim to compete on all fronts after a disappointing 2025-26 season. The former Potsdam striker is versatile enough to play across the front line and adds much-needed goals, while the variety in her goal scoring makes her suitable for various situations during the season. While the positional fit remains to be seen, Cerci adds quality to the squad and it helps she's a lifelong Arsenal fan herself. -- YT
Chelsea announced a shock move for one of the NWSL's best young talents, and the 21-year-old Japan international joins on a five-year deal.
Matsukubo won the NWSL Midfielder of the Year award in 2025 -- she had 15 goal contributions, when no other player had five -- and already has five goals and four assists to her name in the current season. Though her contract was up at the end of this year and the transfer allows the Courage to secure a fee, her exit leaves a big void in the squad midway through the campaign.
After missing out on signing Khadija Shaw (signed a new contract at Man City) and Felicia Schroder (joined Real Madrid), while also losing Sam Kerr amid uncertainty around Mayra Ramirez, Chelsea desperately needed a goal scoring option.
Although Matsukubo is a different mold of forward than her predecessors, less physical and more mobile, her movement allows her to be effective in a variety of situations. Playing in the hole behind a central striker will open up different avenues for Chelsea to try and certainly alleviates some of their worries around goal scoring. -- YT
Stanway's impending move to Arsenal was the worst-kept secret of last season. The Gunners began working on signing the 27-year-old England midfielder last summer and spent much of the winter window negotiating a pre-contract agreement to bolster their struggles when her contract expired.
Arsenal have faced significant issues with rotation and depth this season, as evidenced by their lack of bench options and overuse of players like Kim Little. The Gunners have been searching for a long-term replacement for their captain for several seasons -- a hard ask for a player so capable even at 36 -- but Stanway is a great option.
The defensive midfielder is experienced and reliable, but with other signings and the inconsistent positioning of Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey complicating the midfield selection choice, it is hard to predict how well the move will serve both player and club.
It is a tough blow for Bayern Munich, but with almost a year to plan for her departure, the German club should have already found her replacement, making it a slightly easier adjustment. - EK
Chelsea will look significantly different without Kerr, as the Australia striker has become synonymous with the club and its success. However she hasn't been as impactful for the Blues since her ACL in 2024 left left her on the sidelines for 22 months, and she only returned this season. Naturally, given she is 32, the club were always looking for an alternative but her goal-scoring prowess is almost impossible to replicate, which leaves many fans wondering whether keeping a half-fit Kerr would be better than finding a replacement that needs time to adjust.
It is a great move for Gotham, who have pinched several of Chelsea's departing players and are looking to climb back to the top of the NWSL. Even with her age and injury history, the caliber Kerr brings to a team is worth every penny of her wages.
Had this been a transfer two seasons ago, Arsenal would have been silly to let the midfielder leave following her exceptional 2024-25 season. However, her ACL injury in the summer of 2025 derailed her progression with the team, limiting her to just 30 appearances last season, the majority coming off the bench. Arsenal needed a facelift this season, and Pelova no longer fit the system despite being a key player when she first joined. Moving her on makes space for another, better-suited player to fill her boots, even if that transfer strengthens a local rival.
You might see it a lot in this file, but it is an exceptional move for Spurs, yet again, and they are building a powerhouse unit. Pelova adds experience, versatility, depth and control to the midfield in a defensive role as well as creativity and intelligence in an attacking position and will vastly add to Spurs' plans to compete for top three. It is a good move for all parties involved. -- EK
Real Madrid signed Schröder for what BK Hacken claimed is a world-record fee in excess of $1.5 million, although that record is highly debated.
The 19-year-old won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Europa Cup, scoring a hat trick in the final, finished the 2025 season as the top goal scorer in Damallsvenskan with 30 goals, and was voted Damallsvenskan player of the year. The Sweden international has many good attributes: She is explosive, plays well on the last line of a defense and strikes the ball well. However, her standout trait is her excellent instincts in the penalty box, with a great sense for timing her runs.
Real Madrid are signing one of the best young talents in women's football. After big departures this summer and inconsistent striker options, Madrid were badly in need of goals, and Schröder is a great solution. She should form the core of a young attacking front alongside Linda Caicedo and Lotte Keukelaar.
For BK Hacken, losing one of their top stars is not uncommon. They have unearthed plenty of gems before, but Schröder was their crown jewel. -- YT
Martinez burst onto the scene after signing in January 2025, and scored 10 goals to end the Golden Boot race in third despite only playing 12 games that season. But with West Ham battling against relegation all of last year, and with the men's team dropping to the Championship, it was always going to be a tough ask for the club to hold on to their star attacker.
Sources said that Manchester City considered signing her when it looked like they might lose Khadija Shaw. But Tottenham got there first and Martinez slots right in following the departure of veteran Bethany England, as she will rotate with Cathinka Tandberg up front to lead the goal-scoring charge. Martinez has already shown what she can do with the right setup and her signing will inch Tottenham closer into that top-four category. -- EK
Another impressive move for Spurs. The former Manchester United and Aston Villa winger has plenty of experience and often ranks among the top players in her teams for goals each season -- she finished third last year in the Golden Boot race -- and will add depth and composure to the front line.
It is bad news for Villa, who have lost one of their major attacking outlets and will now need to rebuild ahead of next season without such a prominent figure. Villa have struggled since their fifth-place finish in 2022-23, and losing such a vital part of their attack will only stunt their progression next season given they have a limited budget to replace the winger. -- EK
Losing a veteran defender is one thing; losing a veteran defender who has played almost every position on the pitch, has served the club for over a decade, and was part of the leadership group, to a direct title rival for nothing is downright bad business. The fact that Arsenal tried to backtrack in the final weeks of McCabe's contract to try and entice the Republic of Ireland captain to stay says all you need to know. Arsenal were always facing an overhaul of their squad, but some players are irreplaceable and McCabe is one of them.
Chelsea have added a competent and stalwart defender to their ranks, and have weakened their biggest domestic rival in the process. That alone deserves an A grade. But it was Chelsea's ability to make McCabe feel wanted, as they offered a long contract to the 30-year-old, that also deserves plaudits. - EK
Mead always looked close to leaving Arsenal after almost joining London City last season, but she leaves a large gap to fill. She has been one of the top scorers and chance creators for Arsenal for almost a decade and, even during her final season, proved to be one of Arsenal's most reliable attackers. After all, she did set up that historic Champions League winning goal for Stina Blackstenius. But the 31-year-old believed she had more to give, and Arsenal's offer simply didn't match her expectations.
Manchester City saw more value in giving a longer-term deal to the England winger, and she joins her partner Vivianne Miedema at the newly crowned champions. City made a savvy move to snap her up on a free. - EK
Eintracht Frankfurt: B- Real Madrid: A-
Senss was a key member for a Frankfurt side that finished third behind Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg in Germany last season. She was a mainstay in the XI, playing 45 of the club's 48 league games across the last two seasons, and is at her peak at 28 years old.
However, while she is a quality addition, Senss doesn't directly address Madrid's shortcomings in midfield. The Spanish giants have longed for a ball progressor in central areas and have also just lost the best player in their history: Caroline Weir.
Senss is capable of playing deeper, has a good reading of the game and is robust in her duels. However she isn't known for her goal-scoring abilities and is often partnered with another player to reduce the defensive strain on her as a lone pivot. Madrid's midfield often lacks control, and her stylistic fit remains to be seen. - YT
Having had a pretty rough time in Paris, with the club failing to get out of the UWCL league phase last season, Earps is in need of a change to salvage the last part of her career, after facing backlash following her shock international retirement and release of her book.
Regardless, Earps is a household name and for a club that wants to build its fanbase, bringing in Earps will bring supporters to the ground. It is a good move for London City, who also need to bolster their squad ahead of the new season. But it is no real loss for PSG, who are due a refresh following their poor season. - EK
Real Madrid have lost one of their most important playmakers. Though they've thrown everything at keeping forward Linda Caicedo until 2031, Weir's exit on a free transfer leaves their attacking depth thin and rather mismatched. It is a huge loss for the team ahead of a challenging season in Spain.
However, it is a great grab for OL Lyonnes. Off the back of the 4-0 humbling in the Champions League final, the French side had a lot of work to do to improve their squad despite already boasting some of the best depth in Europe. Their issue isn't individual quality, but how to harness the talents within the squad and although the 30-year-old Weir is regarded as one of the best in the world, the move will only work if Lyonnes are flexible enough to build around her. - EK
City weren't offering Ouahabi a new deal, so it is no loss for a side who have retained the services of Alex Greenwood and recently added Iman Beney to their ranks.
Therefore it is a strange move for Chicago to offer Ouahabi a three-year deal, with the Spain left back already 33. Chicago have been a struggling ship in the NWSL for some time; they finished last season bottom of the table and are only two points ahead of Racing Louisville in 16th this season. Ouahabi will add some depth and security at the back, but her addition will hardly eradicate their glaring issues. - EK
Tottenham's impressive talent stacking from last summer has continued, as they added experienced defender Dijkstra to the ranks for nothing. It is an impressive signing and though Spurs improved defensively from the previous season, they still struggled at the back, with defensive lapses and needless goals making their campaign tougher than it needed to be. The 27-year-old's wealth of experience, as well as her composure and calmness, make her a perfect addition to the team.
It is a familiar sight for Wolfsburg, who struggle to hold on to their key players more than most clubs. Not only do the German side need to plug gaps left by attackers this summer, but now they need to replace Dijkstra. - EK
One of the biggest weaknesses of Gareth Taylor's side in their battle against relegation was their lack of goal threat; the club's top goal scorer finished with six goals (Beata Olsson) and Endemann's arrival should help address this. The German winger is comfortable with both feet, can play across the front line and most importantly can score and assist. She will also look to fill the void left by the departure of Olivia Smith and can raise the ceiling of this Liverpool side, but will probably need an adaptation period.
Again, Wolfsburg have lost another key performer in attack. Only three players have played more games than the 24-year-old in the last two seasons for Wolfsburg and she averaged 0.64 goal contributions per 90 last season in the Frauen Bundesliga. The two-time UWCL winners are looking at a hard transition next season. - YT
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48991002/summer-transfer-window-grading-big-signings-womens-soccer