The FA WSL transfer window is now closed, so let’s have a look at the club by club review of the deals completed.

caitlin foord arsena
Caitlin Foord

Arsenal Rating – C-

In: Caitlin Foord (Sydney FC)

Out: Emma Mitchell (Spurs- loan), Tabea Kemme (retired)

One forward in, two defenders out. That means one less body in an already small squad.

Caitlin Foord is a quality signing and will help when it comes to rotating the attacking players.

The squad quality has slightly dropped, but the biggest problem for Arsenal will be avoiding injuries.

Birmingham City – B

In: Emma Kelly  (IBV Vestmannaeyjar), Georgia Brougham ( Everton – loan)

Out: Nobody

The positive news is they did not lose anyone, and they got players in positions where they were short in numbers. The negative is they really needed to sign a couple more experienced players as their squad is really small.

Injuries might cost them in the relegation battle.

Brighton – B

In: Cecilie Fiskerstrand (LSK), Rianna Jarrett (Wexford Youth), Maxine Bennink (Reading – loan)

Out: Sophie Harris (Lewes – loan)

They brought in a top a quality keeper and sent one of theirs on loan. They also brought in two forwards which makes sense as they have scored only nine League goals so far.

They are in the relegation battle and have improved their squad.

Bristol City – A

In: Elise Hughes (Everton – loan), Ella Rutherford (end of loan – Crystal Palace), Jeon Ga-Eul, Megan Wynne (Tottenham – loan), Faye Brison (Everton), Chloe Logarzo (Sydney FC)

Out: Kirsten Reilly (Rangers WFC), Ella Rutherford (loan – Leicester), Ellie Strippel (Yeovil Town), Vita van der Linden (Stade de Reims)

Bristol have been extremely busy in the transfer market and rightly so as they are fighting to avoid relegation.

Four of the five players brought in are full internationals and all are foreigners, although they did bring an English player in as well. Three players left the club as well.

Chelsea- A

In: Samantha Kerr (Chicago Red Stars),  Jamie-Lee Napier (Hibernians)

Out: Nobody

One world class player signed and it’s an astute signing who will develop in the future. No players left.

A very successful transfer window for Chelsea

Everton – A

In: Isobel Christiansen (Olympique Lyonnais), Sandy McIver (Clemson University), Hayley Raso (Brisbane Roar),

Out: Elise Hughes (Bristol – loan), Georgia Brougham (Birmingham – loan), Faye Brison (Bristol)

Everton have brought in three quality players a top rated international and two former players. They sent two players on loan that were not getting any game time and let go of a player who was also not getting game. It’s a big squad improvement and it should see them get the best out of the top three accolade.

Liverpool – A

In: Rachel Furness (Reading), Ellie Fletcher (Sheffield United – end of loan), Rylee Foster (West Viriginia Uni)

Out: Missy Bo Kearns (Blackburn Rovers – loan), Ellie Fletcher (Blackburn Rovers)

Liverpool are fighting with Bristol to avoid relegation and brought two players in. Rachel Furness is going to be key to their survival, while they have taken a new goalkeeper as well. They have sent two youngsters on loan.

Maybe adding a striker would have helped.

Manchester City – C

In: Nobody

Out: Nobody

No activity on the pitch. Nick Cushing’s departure the main news as the City squad has enough depth to compete for the title and a new manager will probably give them a boost.

Manchester United – C

In : Aimee Palmer (Sheffield United – end of loan)

Out: Mollie Green (Sheffield United – loan), Emily Ramsey (Sheffield United – loan)

Not much activity for Casey Stoney’s team with loans in and out. As she had hinted at many times, it was a quiet window for United.

Reading D+

In: Nobody

Out: Rakel Honnudotir (Breidablik),  Maxine Bennink (Brighton – loan)

Not much movement in the Reading squad, one player gone and one player sent on loan. They have simply reduced their squad size by two.

Tottenham Hotspur D+

In: Emma Mitchell (Arsenal – loan)

Out: Rachel Furness (Reading – end of loan), Megan Wynne (Bristol City – loan)

Losing Rachel Furness is not good news. Getting Emma Mitchell is, however, as she is very experienced. Megan Wynne’s loan is not a surprise considering she was about the 20th or 21st player in the pecking order. Spurs squad is therefore slightly weakened after that transfer window, but they are not at risk of relegation.

West Ham – B

In: Grace Fisk (South Carolina), Filippa Wallén (IF Brommapojkarna), Ruesha Littlejohn, Olivia Smith

Out: Brooke Hendrix (Washington Spirit), Erin Simon (Houston Dash)

West Ham have lost two American defenders who went home and signed three defenders, two of them England youth internationals. They have also signed an experienced Scottish/Irish player to complement their squad. Overall, they have slightly improved it.

Conclusion

Generally, the January transfer window is an adjustment period to right the wrongs of the first half of the season.

Bristol and Everton have been very active and successful. We will see if they managed to improve their position in the table by the end of the season.