Transfers 2026: The Biggest New Summer Moves
A month is a long time in a transfer window.
When we last checked in on the summer’s biggest moves, there were still plenty of questions left unanswered. Salma Paralluelo’s future was up in the air, London City Lionesses were already making some very serious moves, and Barcelona looked like they might be heading into a bit of a rebuild.
Fast forward a few weeks and, well, quite a lot has happened.
Some huge names have found new homes, transfer records have been broken again and, with the new season getting closer, we’re finally starting to see what these teams are actually going to look like.
So, consider this Part Two.
Here are some of the latest transfers we think are worth talking about.
Mapi León Joins the London City Revolution
Barcelona to London City Lionesses
We mentioned this one as a possibility last time. Now it’s official.
Mapi León has followed former Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas to London City Lionesses, signing a three-year deal after nine years with Barça.
And while Alexia might have been the signing that really made everyone sit up and take notice, Mapi is another huge statement.
She’s one of the best defenders of her generation. Brilliant on the ball, aggressive when she needs to be and incredibly comfortable building attacks from the back. She leaves Barcelona having won pretty much everything there is to win, including four Champions League titles.
For a London City side that finished mid-table in its first WSL season, this isn’t the kind of signing you make if the plan is simply to improve a little bit.
And they weren’t finished.
Not even close.
Kadidiatou Diani Makes London City Even Scarier
OL Lyonnes to London City Lionesses
At this point, we’re starting to wonder whether London City have found some sort of transfer-window cheat code.
France international Kadidiatou Diani has left OL Lyonnes to join the Lionesses on a three-year deal, adding yet another world-class name to an increasingly ridiculous squad.
Diani brings pace, power and plenty of experience, and she can play across the attack. She’s exactly the sort of player who can turn a good team into an absolute nightmare to play against.
Putellas. Mapi León. Mary Earps. Diani.
Oh, and then they added Rosa Kafaji from Arsenal too.
There’s ambition, and then there’s whatever London City are doing this summer.
The question isn’t really whether they can establish themselves in the WSL anymore.
It’s how high they can finish.
Salma Paralluelo Chooses Lyon
Barcelona to OL Lyonnes
This was one of the big unanswered questions in our last transfer update.
Now we have our answer.
Salma Paralluelo has joined OL Lyonnes on a four-year deal through 2030, bringing one of the most exciting attacking talents in world football to France.
And this one is fascinating.
Salma is still only 22, which is slightly ridiculous when you look at what she has already achieved. She’s a World Cup winner, a multiple Champions League winner and has spent years playing at the very highest level with Barcelona.
Her pace alone can completely change a game. Give her space to run into and things can get ugly very quickly for the opposition.
Lyon, meanwhile, just watched Barcelona beat them 4-0 in the Champions League final.
So naturally, they responded by signing one of Barcelona’s most dangerous attackers.
We love football.
For Salma, it’s also the first club move outside Spain of her career. Considering how much she has already achieved, it’s easy to forget that we might still be nowhere near seeing the best version of her.
Kerolin Becomes Barcelona’s Record Signing
Manchester City to Barcelona
Barcelona lost Alexia Putellas.
They lost Mapi León.
They lost Salma Paralluelo.
Eventually, they were going to hit back.
Enter Kerolin.
The Brazilian forward has joined Barcelona from Manchester City on a four-year contract in a deal reportedly worth around £1.25 million.
That makes her Barcelona’s record signing and reportedly makes the deal the biggest fee ever received by a WSL club.
Not bad.
Kerolin gives Barcelona something a little different. She’s explosive, brilliant one-on-one and incredibly difficult to predict. Basically, the type of player defenders really don’t want running at them.
But maybe the most interesting thing about this transfer is what it tells us about Barcelona.
Yes, some enormous names have left.
No, they’re not planning on disappearing anywhere.
This is a rebuild.
Melvine Malard Crosses From Manchester United to Chelsea
Manchester United to Chelsea
Chelsea needed a new No.9.
They’ve found one in Melvine Malard.
The France international has signed a four-year deal after leaving Manchester United, reuniting with Sonia Bompastor, who already knows her from their time together at Lyon.
Malard is still only 26, but she already has four Champions League titles from her years in France.
Which feels very Chelsea.
Find a player who is still young enough to improve, but who also happens to have won almost everything already.
They’ve also added Japanese international Manaka Matsukubo this summer, because apparently Chelsea looked at their attacking options and decided they needed a few more.
For everyone hoping they might finally calm down and let somebody else have a turn:
Bad news.
Manaka Matsukubo Is One to Watch
North Carolina Courage to Chelsea
This one might not have generated quite the same headlines as some of the superstar moves this summer, but remember the name.
Manaka Matsukubo has joined Chelsea from North Carolina Courage on a five-year deal.
The Japanese attacker is only 21 and already has experience in both the NWSL and international football. She’s technically excellent, creative and exactly the sort of young player Chelsea seem to love bringing into an already stacked squad.
With Malard arriving too, Chelsea aren’t just thinking about this season.
They’re building an attack for the next several years.
As if the rest of the WSL needed that.
Mao Itamura Could Be Liverpool’s Breakout Signing
Feyenoord to Liverpool
Liverpool’s signing of Mao Itamura might end up being one of the smartest pieces of business of the window.
The 19-year-old Japanese attacking midfielder arrives from Feyenoord after being named the 2025/26 Women’s Eredivisie Player of the Year.
She finished the season with eight goals and six assists in 20 matches.
At 19.
She’s quick with the ball, loves taking players on and arrives in England with a huge amount of potential.
Not every exciting transfer needs a seven-figure fee or a Ballon d’Or on the CV.
Sometimes the best signing is the player everyone is going to know about twelve months from now.
Itamura could be exactly that.
Lyon Are Building Something Serious
Salma isn’t Lyon’s only eye-catching addition.
Sweden international Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has also swapped Chelsea for Lyon, while Caroline Weir completed her move from Real Madrid earlier in the summer.
Put all of that together and Lyon’s intentions aren’t particularly difficult to work out.
They lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final.
They clearly didn’t enjoy it.
Now imagine Salma Paralluelo running at you from one side and Rytting Kaneryd coming at you from the other.
Good luck with that.
The battle for Europe next season could be ridiculous.
So, Who Won the Transfer Window?
We’re not calling it yet.
There’s still time for more madness before the window closes, but one thing already feels pretty clear.
The balance of power in women’s football is moving around very quickly.
Barcelona have lost several players who helped define one of the greatest teams the women’s game has ever seen, but responded by breaking their transfer record for Kerolin.
Lyon have answered their Champions League final defeat with some serious reinforcements.
Chelsea are being Chelsea.
Liverpool are betting on exciting young talent.
And London City Lionesses have apparently decided that slowly working their way towards the top of English football sounds a bit boring.
That last one might be the story we’re most excited to watch.
Because when the WSL starts again, London City could field a team containing Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, Mary Earps, Kadidiatou Diani, Rosa Kafaji and Grace Geyoro.
Just read those names again.
This is a club that only arrived in the WSL last season.
The transfer window isn’t finished yet either.
But the countdown to the new season is well and truly on.
We just want the football back.