11 players who've left the WSL so far this summer transfer window
- A bunch of players have said goodbye to the WSL
- The NWSL has attracted a number of stars leaving England
- Some shock departures top the list so this summer
![Jess Carter, Mary Earps and Alisha Lehmann have all left the WSL (L-R) Jess Carter, Mary Earps and Alisha Lehmann have all left the WSL (L-R)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1919,h_1079,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/90min_en_international_web/01j4kd8yckgbjphrmx4v.jpg)
The summer transfer window has already seen a lot of players arrive at clubs in the Barclays Women's Super League, while some fan favourites have said goodbye ahead of the upcoming season.
At 90min, we’ve taken a look at the players who've said goodbye to England's top flight as they begin pastures new, either across the pond in the United States, or elsewhere in Europe.
Jess Carter (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Welcome to Gotham FC, @_JessCarter 🤝
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) July 29, 2024
We have acquired five-time Women’s Super League (WSL) Champion and Lioness defender Jess Carter from Chelsea FC Women for an undisclosed transfer fee. Carter has signed a multi-year contract with #GothamFC through 2026.
After six years at Chelsea, defender Jess Carter took the plunge to move across the pond to join reigning NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC.
The England international has penned a multi-year deal that will keep her stateside until 2026. Speaking to The Equalizer about the move, Carter said: "It was always about timing, but over the years I have seen the league grow in a really positive direction."
Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns)
📰 | We’ve signed Australian Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold through the 2026 season.
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) July 10, 2024
Welcome to Portland, @MaccaArnold1!
More here: https://t.co/V0m8TykOJ2 pic.twitter.com/m3QNuQxIGO
Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold is now a Portland Thorns player after leaving West Ham United.
The international stopper had spent four years in east London, making 90 appearances across all competitions, as well as captaining the side during the 2023/24 season.
Arnold will stay at the Thorns until the 2026 season, with the option to extend by a further year.
Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit)
All the way from across the pond 🏴
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) July 20, 2024
Welcome to DC, Esme! pic.twitter.com/7JjsB8iqWI
England defender Esme Morgan has swapped Manchester City for Washington Spirit.
The 23-year-old penned an emotional letter to City fans upon announcing her departure at the end of May, after being at the club since Under-15 level and progressing through the ranks.
Sheffield-born Morgan signed a four-year deal with NWSL side Washington Spirit in mid-July.
Gio Querioz (Atletico Madrid)
¡Bienvenida, Gio! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/HpPlugKBjC
— Atlético de Madrid Femenino (@AtletiFemenino) August 2, 2024
Gio Queiroz exited Arsenal in early August to complete a permanent transfer to Atletico Madrid.
The 21-year-old winger had joined the Gunners in September 2022 and made a total of 11 appearances during her time with the club. She will remain at Atletico until 2027.
Alisha Lehmann (Juventus)
"A̶n̶n̶o̶u̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶L̶e̶h̶m̶a̶n̶n̶" ✋
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) July 6, 2024
𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝: 𝐋𝐞𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧 ✔️
Welcome to Juventus Women, Alisha! ⭐ 🇨🇭 🤍🖤
Juventus have secured the arrival of winger Alisha Lehmann on a three-year contract.
The Switzerland international, who has 17m followers on Instagram, has spent the last three seasons at Aston Villa, but will now stay at the Serie A club until the summer of 2027.
During her time at Villa, she helped the club achieve its best-ever WSL finish, as well as semi-final appearances in both domestic cup competitions. Including previous spells at West Ham and Everton, Lehmann had been playing in England since 2018 when she was a teenager.
Melanie Leupolz (Real Madrid)
😄 @Melanie_Leupolz ⚽#WelcomeLeupolz pic.twitter.com/lMx0yy0xI0
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadridfem) July 4, 2024
Chelsea are mourning the loss of former Germany midfielder Melanie Leupolz to Real Madrid.
The 30-year-old has spent the last four years in west London, following her arrival from German side Bayern Munich in 2020, and won the WSL title each season.
As a Blue, she made 83 appearances across all competitions and scored ten goals. She joins Real Madrid after the club placed second in La Liga last season, for their second successive campaign.
Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain)
Paris Saint-Germain are delighted to announce that Mary Earps has joined their women's team!
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) July 1, 2024
The England international goalkeeper has signed a contract with the Parisian club until June 2026.#WelcomeMary | @PSG_Feminines https://t.co/sMeZXZOQJ7
England goalkeeper Mary Earps signed a two-year deal earlier this summer with French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
The 31-year-old moved on from Manchester United, following the expiry of her contract. It's understood that the Red Devils offered Earps a new deal that was turned down, explaining the club were preparing to "undergo a period of transition" that "did not align" with where she is in her career.
Emma Koivisto (AC Milan)
Defender Emma Koivisto has arrived at AC Milan after two seasons at Liverpool.
She moved to the Reds in 2022 from Brighton & Hove Albion, and made 51 appearances. During her time at the club, Koivisto was instrumental in helping head coach Matt Beard's team rebuild following promotion and climb back towards the top end of the table.
Nikola Karczewska (AC Milan)
Poland international Nikola Karczewska exited Tottenham Hotspur in June.
The forward made the move to AC Milan, after joining Spurs in the summer of 2022 and making 19 appearances. Last season she was on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, where she scored ten times in 20 games.
Filippa Angeldahl (Real Madrid)
😄⚽ #WelcomeAngeldahl pic.twitter.com/ZIkfcDolKt
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadridfem) July 1, 2024
Midfielder Filippa Angeldahl became Real Madrid’s first signing of the summer after leaving Manchester City as a free agent.
A signing from BK Hacken in 2021, the 26-year-old helped City win the Conti Cup in 2022. The Sweden international played 44 times over the course of three seasons.
Ellie Roebuck (Barcelona)
𝗪 𝗘 𝗟 𝗖 𝗢 𝗠 𝗘 🫶 pic.twitter.com/kQMJQTHdcf
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) June 19, 2024
Goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck secured herself a two-year contract with Barcelona in June, bringing an end to nine years at Manchester City.
The 23-year-old played over 100 times for City after graduating from the academy, but she missed all of last season after suffering a stroke - which she only revealed in March after months out of action.
Yet, despite making a recovery with no lasting damage to her brain or vision, Roebuck's contract was up and she said she felt ready for a new challenge.
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