As the season is about to start, and some of the summer transfer windows worldwide have already closed, let’s look at the blockbuster money-spending signings we have seen.
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner named Geyoro, Ovalle, Smith and Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson transfers. “Who would have thought we’d have four £1m players in this window? We [Manchester United] won’t be able to go to those transfer fee levels right now. I’ll be honest about that. We’re not in that realm.
Olivia Smith
Smith started the summer by setting records and breaking them when she broke the £1 million barrier. Chelsea had initially held the highest transfer for Naomi Girma, which was $1 million.
She has already proved her worth in their WSL opening match against London City Lionesses when she ghosted through the midfield and scored a banger from outside the box.
Liverpool managing director Andy O'Boyle rejected several bids until £1m was presented. The £1m payment will be made in instalments to allow Liverpool to invest gradually.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers hailed the club's record-breaking £1 million signing, Olivia Smith, as "fantastic" after Arsenal's 4-1 win over London City Lionesses.
Slegers emphasised that Smith's goal was a "phenomenal goal" that "completely lived up to the £1m price tag" and that Smith brought "a lot of threat" to the team. Slegers also mentioned that the club was impressed by Smith's mentality and ambition, and was confident she would make a significant contribution to Arsenal
Alyssa Thompson
The 20-year-old joins from Angel City on a five-year contract. Chelsea sources say the fee is worth just under £1 million with add-ons.
She said, "Chelsea is such an amazing club, one of the best in the world," Thompson said.
"Playing with players that are the best in the world is a fantastic opportunity at such a young age, and I want to learn, grow and develop a lot.
"Chelsea is such an amazing environment to do that in."
The forward made 69 appearances for Angel City, scoring 15 goals and is the third player to depart the LA club in favour of the English top-flight this summer, after Alanna Kennedy and Katie Zelem joined London City Lionesses.
Grace Geyoro
London City Lionesses were promoted from the then Championship (now WSL2) at the end of last season after a Hollywood ending with a final-day win against Birmingham City. Since then, 11 players from that side have left or been outed, and 17 players have been brought in, the last being Grace Geyoro.
The French midfielder was signed on deadline day from PSG.
The club broke the world record for a women’s football transfer, worth £1.43 million.
She became the first player to break the world record in the women’s game in less than two months.
The fee for Geyoro was described as “crazy” by the Manchester United manager, Marc Skinner. “If we’re being honest, the window has gone crazy, right?” Skinner said. “I’m just hearing about the Grace Geyoro move, like, that is crazy. The window and the market have just shifted so much.”
“There’ll be pressure on London City now to deliver, and then you’ve got to deliver under pressure because you spent a lot. We’ll see how they do with that.”
However, a club spokesperson denied paying a world record sum.
Lizabeth Ovalle
This Mexican forward's signing is the only big-money signing outside the WSL, proving that the other leagues must catch up or fall behind.
She signed for Orlando Pride from the Mexican side Tigres for £1.1 million.
Ovalle, 25, has signed a two-year deal with the NWSL champions, with a mutual option to extend it by another year.
"I'm coming with the clear objective of winning titles and leaving a mark with the club," Ovalle said.
"I'm ready to give it my all and help the Pride continue to be a leading team."
Pride owner and chairman Mark Wilf said Ovalle "is a world-class talent and a proven winner, and her arrival in Orlando marks another step on our journey to position the Pride among the elite clubs in global women's soccer".
Ovalle also won 81 international caps for Mexico, scoring 20 goals, and was included in the team for the tournament at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup held in the United States.
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