The January 2026 transfer window for women's football has seen a flurry of activity across the world's elite leagues. With deals spanning the Women's Super League (WSL), Liga F, Frauen-Bundesliga, D1 Arkema (Première Ligue), and Serie A Femminile, clubs have been busy reshaping their squads. The total confirmed value of transfers stands at £29.6k, with 27 deals completed at the time of writing.
Major Moves to English Clubs
Manchester United made a significant early signing, bringing in Sweden international defender Hanna Lundkvist on a free transfer from San Diego Wave. This marks United's first acquisition of the winter period. Meanwhile, Arsenal's transfer balance remains at £0, indicating a quiet window so far for the North London side.
In other moves involving British clubs, German goalkeeper Melina Loeck has extended her loan deal from Brighton to Swedish side Hammarby, where she has been a regular starter.
NWSL and European Activity
The American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has also been active. Experienced USA defender Carson Pickett moved from Orlando Pride to Denver Summit FC, while forward Ella Stevens left Gotham FC for Boston Legacy FC, citing a "new challenge" and a winning mentality.
In Germany, 34-year-old defender Sara Doorsoun returned to Eintracht Frankfurt from Angel City FC for an undisclosed fee, just months after her move to the USA. Norwegian defender Silje Skaara Helgesen, who kept clean sheets in a third of her games for Stabæk, joined Union Berlin.
Notable Free Agents and Domestic Deals
Brazil international forward Ary Borges became a free agent after leaving Racing Louisville, with her next destination yet to be announced. In a domestic NWSL trade, goalkeeper Katie Lund moved from Racing Louisville to Chicago Red Stars, expressing emotional ties to her former city.
Several players secured their first professional contracts or moves, including defender Heather Gilchrist, who signed for Bay FC from Florida State Seminoles, and Japanese goalkeeper Hannah Stambaugh, who joined the new project at Boston Legacy FC from Angel City.
The window remains open, with further deals expected before the deadline. This period of recruitment is crucial for teams aiming to strengthen their positions in the latter half of the 2025-26 season across all major competitions.
