Six weeks after Spain broke English hearts within the closing of the 2023 World Cup, the Girls’s Tremendous League returns on 1 October.
A number of WSL golf equipment have signed gamers who shone in Australia and New Zealand – giving followers an opportunity to see the celebrities of that match nearer to house.
We have picked out 10 of the most important and most attention-grabbing of these signings, as they embark on their debut campaigns in English membership soccer.
Hinata Miyazawa
Joined Manchester United from Mynavi Sendai
Having misplaced the targets of Alessia Russo to Arsenal in the summertime, Manchester United have moved to signal the participant who scored greater than some other on the 2023 World Cup.
Miyazawa claimed the Golden Boot by scoring 5 targets in as many video games for Japan, with United supervisor Marc Skinner hopeful that the 23-year-old can carry that file into the WSL.
Former England ahead Eniola Aluko described Japan as “unstoppable” following their 3-1 win over Norway within the final 16 of the World Cup. “These gamers are on the top of their confidence – the chemistry, the move, the timing,” she mentioned on ITV1.
Central to that was Miyazawa, whose driving impetus and scientific ending was key to Japan wanting like champions-elect at occasions in Australia and New Zealand.
The WSL is a step up for Miyazawa from Japan’s WE League the place she has performed for the previous two seasons – however her performances on the World Cup look like omen.
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Joined Arsenal from Hammarby
Contemporary from starring in co-hosts Australia’s run to their first World Cup semi-final, Cooney-Cross joined Arsenal as their fifth and closing signing of the summer time.
The 21-year-old began all seven of the Matildas’ World Cup video games within the coronary heart of midfield, and was a robust driving and inventive power for Tony Gustavsson’s group.
“Kyra is without doubt one of the greatest younger gamers in world soccer and we’re delighted to have introduced her to Arsenal,” mentioned supervisor Jonas Eidevall.
“Her passing capability and explosiveness enable her to have an effect on video games in a approach you not often see from such a younger participant.”
A reported switch charge of round £250,000 is a hefty value in girls’s soccer – however one which may show a discount if Arsenal overhaul Chelsea within the WSL title race.
Geyse
Joined Manchester United from Barcelona
Whereas Brazil’s fleeting look on the 2023 World Cup hardly gave Geyse an opportunity to shine, she is probably going to provide a a lot better account of herself within the WSL this season.
The 25-year-old performed in all three of Brazil’s matches as they have been dumped out within the group stage by Jamaica. She offered an help of their opening 4-0 win over Panama, a powerful group show which turned out to be a false daybreak.
At membership degree Geyse loved rather more success final season, serving to Barcelona earn a second Girls’s Champions League crown.
Able to taking part in wherever throughout the entrance line, she can be key for United as they mount their first Champions League marketing campaign, in addition to attempt to construct on final season’s second-place end within the WSL.
United supervisor Skinner mentioned: “Geyse is a confirmed winner on the most important phases.”
Amanda Ilestedt
Joined Arsenal from Paris St-Germain
Behind Miyazawa within the World Cup Golden Boot standings, 4 gamers every had 4 targets. Three have been lauded attackers – Germany’s Alexandra Popp, France ahead Kadidiatou Diani and Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord.
The opposite was an odd one out – Sweden central defender Ilestedt, who proved herself an unbelievable hazard from set-pieces.
She scored a last-minute winner in opposition to South Africa, twice with headers from corners in opposition to Italy and the opening objective within the quarter-final victory over Japan.
In addition to her prowess within the opposition field, Ilestedt was one of many competitors’s excellent defensive gamers in serving to Sweden end third. She is a crucial acquisition by Arsenal, with Leah Williamson injured and fellow central defender Rafaelle Souza having been bought.
“Amanda scored some very nice targets from set-pieces,” her new supervisor Eidevall mentioned as a BBC pundit through the World Cup. “However for me, the explanation why she has had a very sturdy match is the best way she has led the defence. She is actually sturdy at defending in and across the field.”
Riko Ueki
Joined West Ham from Tokyo Verdy Beleza
With new supervisor Rehanne Skinner having misplaced a number of key gamers in the summertime, the previous Tottenham boss badly wants a dependable supply of targets if West Ham are to keep away from a relegation dogfight.
Ueki would be the girl to supply them. She performed in all 5 of Japan’s World Cup fixtures and scored twice, together with within the 4-0 group stage win over eventual champions Spain.
The 24-year-old can be in acquainted firm as she turns into the third Japanese participant within the Hammers squad, becoming a member of Risa Shimizu and Honoka Hayashi.
This could assist her acclimatise rapidly to the WSL, as will her all-action model which ought to make for slot in English soccer.
Daphne van Domselaar
Joined Aston Villa from Twente
Having completed a membership file excessive of fifth within the WSL final season, Aston Villa may have been left reeling by the lack of first-choice goalkeeper and England worldwide Hannah Hampton to Chelsea.
As a substitute, they’ve arguably upgraded. Van Domselaar steered she may very well be the most effective goalkeepers in worldwide soccer together with her shows for the Netherlands at Euro 2022 – and he or she affirmed that status on the 2023 World Cup.
Her saves have been key to the Dutch pushing USA into second place of their group, earlier than she produced one of many best particular person performances of the match in the last-16 win over South Africa.
An outstanding shot-stopper, at 23 there’s nonetheless loads of room for Van Domselaar to develop even additional as a commanding presence within the Villa again line.
“She’s a participant who comes with nice pedigree and potential to be one of many world’s greatest,” mentioned Villa supervisor Carla Ward.
Irene Guerrero
Joined Manchester United from Atletico Madrid
Having misplaced one key participant from the world champions in Ona Batlle, who joined Barcelona, Manchester United have introduced in one other Spaniard.
Guerrero performed a supporting function for Spain on the World Cup – she was an unused substitute within the closing and made solely three appearances within the match, all from the bench.
However the 26-year-old provides metal and expertise to the United midfield alongside Katie Zelem and Hayley Ladd, in addition to Champions League expertise from her time at Levante, the place she performed earlier than a season with Atletico Madrid.
Ashley Lawrence
Joined Chelsea from Paris St-Germain
Whereas Canada endured a nightmare World Cup – dumped out on the group stage following a 4-0 loss to Australia – the blame can’t be positioned on the toes of Lawrence.
The versatile participant, able to taking part in at full-back or in midfield, Lawrence was a part of the Canadian aspect which gained Olympic gold in 2021 and brings that profitable expertise to a membership filled with it.
Lawrence joins from Paris St-Germain, the place she was a Champions League finalist in 2017. With the European cup the last word prize for domestically dominant Chelsea, her expertise may present an additional edge.
“Ashley has established herself as the most effective full-backs within the girls’s sport for each membership and nation,” mentioned Chelsea supervisor Emma Hayes.
“Her capability to get ahead and her progressive play into the ultimate third is a standout energy and she will be able to play on each the left and proper aspect.”
Sophie Roman Haug
Joined Liverpool from Roma
In a World Cup marketing campaign blighted by poor performances on the sector and public fallings out off it, Haug was the star in the one second of pleasure for Norway.
She scored a hat-trick because the 1995 champions beat Philippines 6-0 to qualify second in Group A, though they have been comprehensively crushed and outplayed by Japan within the final 16.
The 24-year-old represents one thing of a coup for mid-table Liverpool, becoming a member of from Champions League qualifiers Roma.
The Reds will hope Haug can substitute the targets of final season’s high scorer Katie Stengel, who has joined American aspect NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Tall for a feminine participant at 5ft 10in, Haug should not have any concern adapting from Italy to the extra bodily WSL.
Jorelyn Carabali
Joined Brighton from Atletico Mineiro
Whereas Colombia drew explicit reward and a focus for his or her daring attacking soccer in reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, additionally they featured a strong defence – by which Carabali was essential.
The 26-year-old performed in all 5 of Colombia’s matches, together with the historic win over Germany within the group stage and the last-eight assembly with England.
Carabali has no prior expertise of English soccer, however seems an astute signing by a Brighton aspect determined to enhance on final season’s Eleventh-placed end and relegation battle.
“We’re delighted to have Jorelyn with us,” mentioned Brighton supervisor Melissa Phillips.
“That is her first style of soccer in Europe, however we noticed from her performances within the World Cup this summer time that she has a lot to supply by way of her capability and mentality.”
