Women's Super League clubs are already preparing for the start of the 2020/21 season, with the summer transfer window now in full swing.
Here's a roundup of new signing and every departure this summer.
Arsenal
Following on from the January capture of Caitlin Foord, there is a distinct Australian theme to Arsenal's summer recruitment as they try and take the title back from Chelsea. Steph Catley and Lydia Williams were both teammates of Foord in last summer's World Cup squad. Might that be something to do with the fact that manager Joe Montemurro is.Australian? We couldn't comment.
In:
Steph Catley (DF) - Melbourne City
Malin Gut (MF) - Grasshopper
Lydia Williams (GK) - Melbourne City
Noelle Maritz (DF) - Wolfsburg
Out:
Louise Quinn (DF) - released
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (GK) - released
Katrina Veje (MF) - Rosengard
Danielle Carter (FW) - Reading
Emma Mitchell (DF) - Reading
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are stepping into the professional top-flight world of the WSL for the first time and changes were inevitable as they aim to stay at the higher level. Among those who have been released is defender Jade Richards, who joined the club at the Under-10 age group.
In:
Chloe Arthur (MF) - Birmingham
Freye Gregory (MF) - Birmingham
Anite Asante (DF) - Chelsea
Daine Silva (FW) - Sporting CP
Out:
Jade Richards (DF) - released
Kerri Welsh (FW) - released
Alice Hassall (MF) - released
Phoebe Warner (MF) - released
Melissa Johnson (FW) - released
Charlotte Greengrass (DF) - released
Sophie Maierhofer (MF) - released
Daniela Kosinska (GK) - released
Birmingham City
The 2019/20 season was a tough one for Birmingham after a number of key players left last summer, with midfielder Emma Follis even stepping down a level to join Aston Villa. This season will be tougher still, with Lucy Staniforth and Rachel Williams the most high profile among another raft of departures.
In:
None
Out:
Brianna Visalli (MF) - Houston Dash
Adrienne Jordan (DF) - OL Reign
Freya Gregory (DF) - Aston Villa
Abbey Jones (MF) - released
Olivia Rebjohn (MF) - released
Alexandra Brooks (GK) - released
Chloe Arthur (MF) - Aston Villa
Lucy Staniforth (MF) - Manchester United
Kerys Harrop (DF) - released
Rachel Williams (FW) - released
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton have added international midfielders Inessa Kaagman and Nora Heroum to their squad this summer. The former has joined from Everton and made her Netherlands debut last year, while the latter has played over 70 times for Finland.
In:
Katie Startup (GK) - Charlton
Katie Robinson (MF) - Bristol City
Nora Heroum (MF) - AC Milan
Inessa Kaagman (MF) - Everton
Out:
Lea Le Garrec (MF) - Fleury 91
Katie Natkiel (MF) - Crystal Palace
Amanda Nilden (MF) - released
Sophie Harris (GK) - released
Fern Whelan (DF) - released
Ini Umotong (FW) - released
Matile Lundorf (DF) - Juventus
Bristol City
Two wins in the final five games of last season gave Bristol City enough points to keep out of the relegation zone in the end. It might be wishful to think they will have an easier ride in the new season but new faces have come in to improve the squad.
In:
Ella Mastrantonio (MF) - Western Sydney Wanderers
Aimee Palmer (MF) - Manchester United
Megan Wynne (MF) - Tottenham
Jemma Purfield (DF) - Liverpool
Out:
Poppy Pattinson (MF) - Everton
Olivia Chance (MF) - released
Katie Robinson (MF) - Brighton
Eartha Cummings (GK) - released
Jeon Ga-eul (FW) - released
Frankie Brown (DF) - released
Loren Dykes (DF) - Cardiff
Chelsea
An unbeaten Chelsea won the 2019/20 title on points per game following the season being abandoned. They have added quality to their squad, probably with an eye on their return to the Women's Champions League and the extra demands it brings.
In:
Melanie Leupolz (MF) - Bayern Munich
Niamh Charles (FW) - Liverpool
Jessie Fleming (MF) - UCLA
Out:
Adelina Engman (FW) - Montpellier
Deanna Cooper (DF) - Reading
Anita Asante (DF) - Aston Villa
Ramona Bachmann (FW) - Paris Saint-Germain
Everton
Everton were resurgent in 2019/20 after flirting with relegation the season before and are now looking to kick on again. A strong start had sort of fizzled out by the time the campaign for cancelled and the Toffees are keen to come back strong.
In:
Poppy Pattinson (MF) - Bristol City
Ingrid Moe Wold (DF) - Madrid CFF
Nicoline Sorensen (FW) - Brondby
Rikke Sevecke (DF) - Fleury 91
Out:
Inessa Kaagman (MF) - Brighton
Hannah Cain (FW) - released
Kirstie Levell (GK) - released
Taylor Hinds (DF) - Liverpool
Chloe Kelly (FW) - Manchester City
Manchester City
Manchester City were actually ahead of Chelsea before the 2019/20 season was abandoned and the title went to west London on points per game. That will only motivate City, who are under new manager Gareth Taylor to challenge harder in 2020/21.
In:
Chloe Kelly (FW) - Everton
Out:
Tessa Wullaert (FW) - released
Pauline Bremer (FW) - Wolfsburg
Manchester United
Manchester United enjoyed an impressive debut season in the WSL following their 2019 promotion and have already set about trying to now bridge the gap to the league's big three. England midfielder Lucy Staniforth is a statement signing.
In:
Carrie Jones (MF) - Cardiff
Lucy Staniforth (MF) - Birmingham
Ona Batlle (DF) - Levante
Ivana Fuso (FW) - Basel
Out:
Aurora Mikalsen (GK) - released
Charlotte Newsham (DF) - released
Aimee Palmer (MF) - Bristol City
Lizzie Arnot (FW) - released
Siobhan Chamberlain (GK) - released
Reading
Reading have snapped up former Arsenal striker Danielle Carter this summer. The 27-year-old had been with the Gunners since 2009 and despite injury problems is a valuable asset for the Royals in their quest to improve on a fifth-placed finish.
In:
Emma Mitchell (DF) - Arsenal
Danielle Carter (FW) - Arsenal
Deanna Cooper (DF) - Chelsea
Out:
Maz Pacheco (DF) - West Ham
Lisa-Marie Karlseng Utland (FW) - Rosenborg
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham are looking to consolidate their place in the WSL after successfully managing the transition to a professional top flight club last season. But 2020/21 will be their first season since 2009 without retired captain Jenna Schillaci.
In:
None
Out:
Sophie McLean (MF) - released
Chloe Morgan (GK) - Crystal Palace
Coral-Jade Haines (MF) - released
Megan Wynne (MF) - Bristol City
Jenna Schillaci (DF) - retired
West Ham United
West Ham fairly comfortably remained a WSL side last season and with the right recruitment this summer will fancy their chances of better competing with the league's middle block that contains Manchester United, Reading, Tottenham and Everton.
In:
MacKenzie Arnold (GK) - Brisbane Roar
Maz Pacheco (DF) - Reading
Katerina Svitkova (MF) - Slavia Prague
Hawa Cissoko (DF) - ASJ Soyaux
Out:
Katharina Baunach (DF) - retired
Anna Moorhouse (GK) - Bordeaux
Tessel Middag (MF) - released
Esmee de Graaf (MF) - released
Vyan Sampson (DF) - released
Ruesha Littlejohn (FW) - released
Olivia Smith (DF) - University of Central Florida
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Source: 90min
