United striker leaves and underdogs grow stronger: What happened on WSL deadline day?

The Barclays Women’s Super League transfer window shut yesterday with one club making a record signing, another team’s top scorer departing, and several youngsters to watch going out on loan across the division.

Here is what you need to know from deadline day.

Brighton busy as they sign United striker

After their own top scorer Elisabeth Terland left on a free transfer to Manchester United earlier in the window, the Seagulls have retaliated by securing Nikita Parris’ services on a permanent deal. They will need to pay a fee after the Manchester club triggered an option to extend the 30-year-old’s contract by one year. Parris scored 25 goals across 57 appearances for United and was their top scorer last season, but would have found her minutes limited by Terland’s arrival.

New Brighton boss Dario Vidošić said: “Nikita’s record as a goalscorer speaks for itself and she will help us a lot in that regard.

“She is vastly experienced and will be an excellent role model, particularly for our young players.”

It was Brighton’s grand finale to the day after bringing in top Arsenal youngster Michelle Agyemang on loan. They also secured three outgoing loans, including for Li Mengwen. The Chinese international has Champions League and World Cup experience but has struggled to establish a starting berth on the south coast. She has temporarily joined up with potential relegation rivals West Ham.

The biggest shock of the day, though, was Lee Geum-min’s departure to Birmingham City. The forward was one of Brighton’s longest serving players and scored 13 goals in her 93 outings for them, but has signed a two-year deal with the Championship outfit in a further blow to their attacking depth. Lee said she was excited to reunite with Amy Merricks, who was Brighton’s interim manager briefly in 2022, and she will be a valuable addition to the Midlands club. Birmingham City were relegated from the top flight in 2022 and face stiff competition to return.

Spurs secure World Cup winner as Villa make record signing

Tottenham Hotspur added Spanish midfielder Maite Oroz to their ranks yesterday, who joins fellow summer signing Hayley Raso in making the switch from Real Madrid. Oroz, 26, spent four years with Las Blancas and this will be her first stint outside Spain.

The deal, done with an hour and a half to spare, boosts Robert Vilahamn’s side in the midfield after they had to bid goodbye to Grace Clinton this summer. Clinton impressed on loan with Spurs last year but has returned to her parent club Manchester United. Oroz will bring a renewed vigour to the midfield in her place. Last season she netted five times in 24 appearances for Real Madrid as they finished second in Liga F. She also made three appearances (including the final) in Spain’s victorious Women’s Nations League campaign, scoring twice.

Oroz, who will wear the number 10 at Spurs, said: “I consider myself to be an all-round footballer with good vision. I like to link the play, I really like to have the ball and, above all, I like to enjoy myself while keeping possession.”

Further north, Aston Villa broke the bank to secure the signature of Brazilian Gabi Nunes. The Villans were in the market for attacking reinforcements after Alisha Lehmann’s departure, and activated a £250,000 release clause to prise Nunes away from Levante. Their new star has signed on for an initial two years after winning Olympic silver with Brazil. She has scored three times for her country this year and manager Robert de Pauw called her a “technically gifted player who knows how to find the goal.”

Newcomers Palace add experienced American and several youngsters

After a busy summer, Crystal Palace capped off their business with the permanent transfer of 32-year-old Katie Stengel. The American has previously played in the WSL for Liverpool before moving to NJ/NY Gotham FC. That spell saw her score three goals in 25 appearances, and none were last season – but during her time in England, she netted 17 times in 33 games. Manager Laura Kaminski will hope Stengel can add to their firepower in front of goal. Palace scored more goals than any other Championship team by some margin, but the injury of Elise Hughes and several departures this summer left them in need of reinforcements to compete in the top flight.

Fellow deadline day addition Poppy Pritchard could help with that – the teenager joined Manchester City in January and has headed south on loan for the season. She has scored an impressive 13 times in 13 games for England’s under-19s and Palace could be fertile ground for her to develop her talents. Lily Woodham also signed a short-term deal on deadline day to reinforce the defence. The 24-year-old has played in the WSL with Bristol City and Reading and joins from Seattle Reign until the end of January.

Youngsters sent out on loan – and London quieter than expected

As well as Pritchard’s move to Palace and Agyemang’s switch to Brighton, several clubs have decided to send out their youngsters to gain minutes lower down the pyramid. Brighton youngsters Lily Dent and Grace McEwen will spend time at Championship outfit Portsmouth, while Manchester United’s Alyssa Aherne faces another spell away, this time with Sheffield United. The 20-year-old winger signed professionally for United in 2023 and has had time with Burnley and Everton as she looks for her break into the first team

The big rumour of deadline day morning was Keira Walsh’s potential return to the WSL, with Chelsea and Arsenal thought to be after for the Lioness’ signature. Walsh has reportedly told Barcelona she will not stay at the club beyond the end of her contract next summer, but the European champions have decided they would rather lose her for free and benefit from her services for another year. Spanish media reported that Arsenal offered £930,000 for the 27-year-old, who joined for a then-world-record fee of £400,000 in 2022 – but Barcelona were not willing to sell. Instead, Arsenal and Chelsea had very quiet deadline days.

The Blues did sign defender Veerle Buurman from PSV Eindhoven after an impressive season in which she broke into the first team and was called up for her country. At only 18, she is very much a future prospect for Chelsea, who have signed her on a four-year deal, and will continue to play for PSV on loan this season.

You can follow the new WSL campaign from the beginning here on FromTheSpot, where we kick off with Chelsea v Aston Villa on Friday 20th September.