WSL window winners & losers: Ecstatic Arsenal but have Man City & Chelsea done enough?

WSL 2026/27 transfer window winners and losers: Ecstatic Arsenal, but have Man City and Chelsea done enough? The 2026/27 WSL season kicks off on Friday night as London City Lionesses host Manchester United, live on Sky Sports Football from 6pm; kick-off 7pm; the transfer window shut on Thursday night - who were the winners and losers from a busy summer's business? Thursday 3 September 2026 22:39, UK 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? Manchester City managed to keep hold of FWA Women's Footballer of the Year Bunny Shaw, but have the champions done enough business to retain their title? - Women's Super League fixtures 2026/27 - Latest WSL news and gossip - Got Sky? Watch the WSL on the Sky Sports app📱 - Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract📺 Meanwhile, Chelsea and Manchester United head into the new campaign with questions over whether they have strengthened enough to be challenging for the title, in contrast to West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur, who have both enjoyed eye-catching summers. So, as the WSL transfer window finally slams shut for business, we look at the winners and losers from the summer with the new season set to get under way on Friday Night when London City host Man Utd live on Sky Sports. Arsenal & London City winners of the window Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: If the answer to the question 'Who has improved most this window?' isn't Arsenal or London City, then they need to have a word with their recruitment teams. Elisa De Almeida is Arsenal's eighth new signing and most of the players brought in are at a point in their career they're supposed to be at their peak. Big things are expected of Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle, Geraldine Reuteler and others as the club looks to win their first WSL title since 2019. As for London City - another sixth-placed finish after their star-studded signing drive won't be tolerated. Arsenal can take on any one Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: Arsenal are ecstatic with their window, they feel as though they have a squad ready to take on all comers. Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle, Misa Rodriguez, Selina Cerci and Elisa De Almeida are expected to raise standards and help Arsenal get over the hump, and Renee Slegers is already chuffed with the impact they're making at London Colney. The club's really high on Lisa Baum's potential, she's been turning heads in training. They also have Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang to come back before the end of the year, which means the future's bright. Summer signings have quality to make London City contenders Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: It should pay off [London City's summer spending]. They've signed the favourite for this year's Ballon d'Or (Alexia Putellas), a Champions League-winning centre-back (Mapi Leon) and a goalkeeper once named the best in the world (Mary Earps). Regardless of age, these players have the quality and character to make London City contenders. You can argue it's an old squad, you can argue there's a lot of pressure to click quickly and you can argue whether the coach has the big-game and big-name experience, but talent-wise, it's one heck of a squad. Some pundits have them as title challengers, some as top-three entrants and some as major disappointments. The fun is in seeing how this plays out. Former England international Jill Scott: Whenever we speak about the big teams, we always say how important it is to have a good goalkeeper. And having Mary Earps back in the WSL, she's going to be great for them. There's a lot of experience in that team and you speak about Alexia Putellas in that team - they'll definitely be up there. Questions being asked about whether Man City have done enough business Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: Manchester City are not starting the season how they want to. They're dealing with some injuries to some key players, including Vivianne Miedema, Jade Rose, Grace Clinton and Sydney Lohmann. It's why they made a move for Joe Echegini and signed Carlotta Wamser late in the window. Signing two players in Beth Mead and Niamh Charles adds to their pool of experience, but with the return of Champions League football, questions are being asked about whether enough has been done this summer. Former England international Jill Scott: For me, Man City are still title favourites and a big reason for that is by keeping hold of Bunny Shaw. Her goal record speaks for itself and having Beth Mead in the squad now supplying her with more goals, I'd still go for City. United fans must brace themselves for a new reality Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: Manchester United fans need to brace themselves for a new reality. The club has changed its ethos, as well as its head coach. Eva Olid has been brought in to usher a new generation of players at United, which means they may have different short-term aims compared to previous seasons. Saying that, they did shell out around £700k at the end of the window to sign Sweden winger Monica Jusu Bah and Rebecca Bernal, with the former bringing pace and excitement and the latter experience and grit. It's what happens next that's the big test of their ambitions. Ella Toone is in the last year of her contract. Chelsea were expected to go bigger this summer after looking flat last season Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: We all expected Chelsea to go bigger this summer and it's not as though they didn't try. A league-leading contract was offered to Bunny Shaw, who opted to stay at Manchester City at the last moment. A potential world-record fee was offered for Sweden striker Felicity Schroder, but she decided to move to Real Madrid. Bringing Katie McCabe and Melvine Malard's experience and dynamism is a positive to a side that looked flat last season. The club's really high on the signings of youngsters Giulia Dragoni and Manaka Matsukubo, who could have a bigger impact than expected. Spurs and West Ham's eye-catching off-season? Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: How can you not be impressed with Spurs? Caitlin Dijkstra brings UWCL experience, Kirsty Hanson had a brilliant season at Aston Villa, Shekiera Martinez should add more goals and Alice Sombath won Europe's biggest competition at Lyon. They'll be eyeing up at least fourth place this season. West Ham are another club that's really happy with their off-season. Kelly Gago never got going at Everton, but she's an exciting striker that could light up East London. Ebony Salmon's looking to live up to her early promise at a new club and Laia Codina brings a World Cup-winners' medal to the changing room. Can they make the leap? A good test is Spurs away in Week One. Putellas is the biggest signing the league has seen Sky Sports' Anton Toloui: Alexia Putellas is the biggest signing the league has seen and the results will be felt in many ways. London City have sold out their home stadium in Bromley for the first time as people are desperate to see her debut. Major brands are more likely to see LCL and the WSL as an attractive prospect as Putellas is one of the few global faces of women's football. Putellas' experience as a four-time UWCL winner and World Cup winner, as well as her veracious attitude for success, has already had an impact at London City training. But on the pitch is where it matters. Putellas is confident she can bring her world-class talent to the WSL week after week, which is an exciting prospect. No WSL player has ever won the Ballon d'Or - Putellas hopes her start of season form with her new club will cement her case to end that drought. Watch London City vs Man Utd live on Sky Sports Football from 6pm on Friday, kick-off 8pm. Follow across Sky Sports digital platforms and watch in-game clips and free match highlights shortly after full time. [Image text:] Arsenal ASTONVILLA R ALPALA CITY LONDON ALBION OAO Everton 1878 SHE II