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Arsenal and London City Lionesses reshape squads for WSL season

9 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 6:35 PM

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Arsenal and London City Lionesses reshape squads for WSL season

Summary

The Women's Super League transfer window has closed with significant movement among several clubs. Arsenal aims to secure its first league title since 2019 following an active period that included the signing of eight new players. Meanwhile, London City Lionesses completed a high-profile move for Alexia Putellas. This acquisition is regarded as the most notable signing for the competition to date. The spending spree has raised questions regarding whether the club can sustain a challenge for the league title. Supporters of Chelsea and Manchester City are also evaluating whether their respective clubs completed sufficient business to remain competitive against the bolstered squads of their rivals.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports BBC News BBC Sport The Guardian Sport Sky Sports

Status Watch

•Arsenal signed eight new players to bolster their squad for a title run.
•London City Lionesses secured the signing of Alexia Putellas.
•The league title has not been won by Arsenal since 2019.
•Analysts are questioning the sufficiency of transfer activity at Chelsea and Manchester City.

Latest Updates

6:35 PMYahoo Sports — New contenders emerge on WSL return - but Man City start strong
6:34 PMBBC News — New contenders emerge on WSL return - but Man City start strong - bbc.com
6:34 PMBBC Sport — New contenders emerge on WSL return - but Man City start strong
10:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — Brighton v Arsenal: Women’s Super League – live
7:22 AMYahoo Sports — Has there been a changing of guard for London sides in the WSL?
7:22 AMBBC Sport — Has there been a changing of guard for London sides in the WSL?

What they're saying

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Minute-by-minute updates from 12pm (BST) kick-off WSL transfer talking points | Email Rob The WSL is back, with 14 teams this time around as women’s football goes from strength to strength. Those pesky upstarts London City Lionesses have been making waves on and off the pitch but it is the old guard who promise another enthralling title race. Champions Manchester City look the team to beat again, although Chelsea have spent heavily in a bid to reclaim their throne. Manchester United could be contenders too, but Arsenal will fancy ther chances of winning the Women’s Super League for the first time since 2019. Renée Slegers’ squad has been boosted by the signings of Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle, Selina Cerci, Géraldine Reuteler, Lisa Baum, Misa Rodríguez, Isabella Damm and Élisa De Almeida. Stanway stands out as in the heart of midfield but could this be the season Olivia Smith really takes off? The Canadian forward joined Arsenal for a then world-record fee of £1m last summer and showed flashes of her potential last season. Her skill and incisive running should give Arsenal’s attack an extra dimension during this campaign. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Rob Bleaney

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Arsenal are looking to win their first Women's Super League title since 2019 after signing eight new players, while can London City Lionesses' big-spending summer - including the purchase of Alexia Putellas, "the biggest signing the league has seen" - lead them to an unlikely title challenge?
— Sky Sports