A record $15.6 million was spent on international women's transfers in 2024, according to a FIFA report, more than doubling the previous mark in 2023. To start 2025, we had a world-record fee ($1.1m) as USWNT defender Naomi Girma moved to Chelsea in January, then it was broken in July as Arsenal paid $1.36m to sign Olivia Smith from Liverpool.
Here are grades for all the major summer transfers in the women's game, with each listed in order of date and then highest fee.
All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.
July 17
Olivia Smith
£1m ($1.36m)
Liverpool: B
Arsenal: A
Liverpool set a high asking price, and for good reason. At 20, Smith is already an experienced and prolific winger, yet to enter the best years of her career. She was crucial to Liverpool's campaign last season and, as she had two years left on her contract, the demand was always going to be high. The Reds were reluctant to part ways with her, but £1m for a club with a historically stringent budget will do wonders for the calibre of player they can now bring in.
Lyon and Chelsea were both keen, but neither were willing to match the world-record requirement. Arsenal did and it is a solid statement from the Gunners who have previously had world-record bits rejected for the likes of Alessia Russo, Mary Earps, Naomi Girma and Keira Walsh. After winning the Champions League, they needed a statement signing to solidify their plans to continue European dominance. But, with competition on the wing from recent signing Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead, who has one season left on her contract, keeping all three happy and rotated may not be the easiest task.
Smith will not have left a team like Liverpool, who were willing to build a squad around her, to sit on the bench in north London. Some have queried whether the fee is too high for such a young player, but as quickly as the women's transfer market is growing, that fee could easily double in a year or two, making it a smart investment. Arsenal also need to bring their age profile down, so introducing Smith will gradually help transition the squad.
July 8
Lily Yohannes
€450,000
Ajax: A
OL Lyonnes: A
As a smaller club, Ajax were always going to struggle to hold on to a potential superstar like Yohannes. Like those in lower-ranked leagues or teams, the lure of the big sides, with higher salaries, more opportunities and more competition, always wins. But Ajax got a hefty transfer fee for the 18-year-old USWNT star which will serve the club well to bring in replacements as they look to push on in their European journey.
Lyonnes were in competition with Chelsea to sign Yohannes, but weren't willing to match Lyon's highly competitive offer. They're getting an exceptionally talented wonderkid with Champions League experience, with a high commercial value too, given her ties with the USWNT. Lyon are also able to integrate younger players into the first team a lot quicker than Chelsea can, meaning Yohannes is likely to gain a starting role far sooner than if she had moved to west London. It's a good signing for all parties involved.
Ellie Roebuck
Free
Barcelona: C
Aston Villa: A
Roebuck has had a tough few seasons. After being left on the bench at Manchester City, she joined Barcelona in 2024, but suffered a stroke and has faced issues getting game time ever since. Indeed, the 25-year-old has made only two appearances since the end of the 2022-23 season. It's unfortunate that the Catalans could not make the move work as, at one point, she was destined to be the next top goalkeeper in Europe and for England -- though she has not featured for the Lionesses in over two years.
The move will great for getting Roebuck's confidence and minutes up, while Villa are looking to build on some tough recent seasons, so a seasoned professional in between the sticks will surely help their cause.
July 7
Taylor Hinds
Fee: Free agent
Liverpool: B-
Arsenal: B+
Hinds leaving Liverpool, where she was captain and a sure starter, for a club where she'll have to fight for game time is an interesting one. The Jamaica international's contract expired in Merseyside despite being offered a new deal.
While a move to the European champions will provide a greater challenge, Hinds may see a significant drop in game time as U.S. international Emily Fox has secured her place in the right-back role. Arsenal also have their leadership team locked down with Kim Little, Leah Williamson and Katie McCabe so she'll unlikely take a captaincy role but adding another player capable of stepping up is never a bad thing. Though some rotation to give Fox some rest will provide Hinds with opportunities to play, the 26-year-old may become quite restless confined to the bench next season.
July 2
Ellie Carpenter
Undisclosed
Lyon: C-
Chelsea: B-
Lyon are losing an experienced defender, even though Carpenter is only 25. She is one of several departures this summer, as the squad look to shift to younger talent with Jonathan Giraldez's arrival as manager, but it feels like poor business to let such a talented right-back depart.
She will reunite with former manager Sonia Bompastor in London, and while Chelsea signed Lucy Bronze at right back last season, Carpenter will serve as succession planning for the 33-year-old. But as a regular starter for a top European side already, the Australia international will not be happy sitting on the bench and neither will Bronze, so keeping everyone happy will be a tough task. Despite it being a very positive addition for Chelsea, the risk of upsetting the harmony and balance in the squad reduces the grade.
Chloe Kelly
Free
Man City: D
Arsenal: A
While Kelly left Man City on loan to rejoin her childhood club in January, there was little chance that the forward would remain at City after the expiry of her contract. The relationship between the England winger and the club broke down and, amid an injury crisis, the loss of a fast and experienced forward left City in a worse place, while she went on to win the Champions League with the Gunners.
It's a great piece of business for Arsenal, and while Man City bade farewell to Kelly back in January, the public fallout may not help their prospect of making future signings.
July 1
Ashley Lawrence
Undisclosed
Chelsea: B
Lyon: A
Lawrence had a productive start to her time in London, but she never really broke into the side. With other players starting ahead of her, a transfer for the Canada international is the right choice to allow her more game time, though it's a slightly negative reflection on Bompastor as former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes had a knack for rotating to keep everyone happy.
With Ellie Carpenter leaving, Lawrence plugs a gap that needed filling, so it is a smart piece of business for both clubs. With her Champions League experience at PSG and Chelsea, she'll be an asset to this new-look Lyon team.
Jill Roord
Undisclosed
Man City: D
FC Twente: A
In a strange turn of events, Roord requested a move back to the Netherlands with a year left on her contract. She will be a monumental loss for City. Still, the 28-year-old midfielder is a great signing for the Dutch side as they look to compete in the Champions League and domestically.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto
Free
PSG: C
OL Lyonnes: A
It's a pretty big loss for PSG as Katoto, one of the best strikers in the world at 26, went to a direct rival on a free transfer. It's a sore one, too, after OL Lyonnes acquired Kadidiatou Diani from Paris last season. With OL Lyonnes paying high wages thanks to owner Michele Kang and money from their previous European domination, this likely won't be the last time PSG lose out on a player, or a fee, to their rival. It's poor business from PSG that they still can't compete.
Jule Brand
Free
Wolfsburg: D
OL Lyonnes: A
Brand is 21 and already one of the most promising wingers in Europe. Her ability to run at defenders and create issues in the opposition box makes her a varied attacking threat, and OL Lyonnes can be happy with the deal -- especially because it's a free transfer. Wolfsburg, however, have lost a lot of their stars already and are in transition. But this one might hurt the most.
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Daniëlle van de Donk
Free
OL Lyonnes: B
London City Lionesses: A
After four years in France, the 33-year-old has returned to England, and a move to WSL debutants London City (which sees her stay with Kang's franchise of clubs) will give them great experience. The Netherlands international spent six years in England with Arsenal and knows the depth of competitiveness and quality it takes to play in the WSL. Her departure from Lyonnes also creates space for the club to bring in younger players as they look to reduce the average age of their squad.
Ingrid Engen
Free
Barcelona: B
OL Lyonnes: A-
Having played most of her career in midfield, the Norway international excelled at center back with Barcelona during Mapi Leon's injury. But upon Leon's return, Engen returned to the bench and struggled for playing time, so her exit is unsurprising. Barcelona's inability to negotiate a fee from OL Lyonnes isn't the best business, but the 27-year-old will reunite with Jonatan Giráldez in France and will fill the gap left by the departing Van de Donk.
Sara Däbritz
Free
OL Lyonnes: B
Real Madrid: A
Real Madrid are getting a seasoned professional who knows what it takes to win. With Madrid still not matching Barcelona's dominance in Liga F, Däbritz might get them a step closer. For OL Lyonnes, moving on from a 30-year-old fits their plan of investing and embedding younger talent as they try to bring down the average age of their squad under Giráldez.
Olga Carmona
Free
Real Madrid: B
PSG: B
It's a big loss for Real Madrid to say goodbye to their former captain, especially to a Champions League rival whom they will likely face at some point in the new format of the competition. Though PSG often struggle to fend off competition for their top players, Real Madrid have an equally poor track record of keeping theirs. It should be a positive step for Carmona, 25, if she can retain a starting role, but it seems more of a lateral move than anything that will greatly advance her career.
Lina Hurtig
Free
Arsenal: A
Fiorentina: A
It was no surprise that Hurtig's contract was not extended in north London, and the Sweden international chose to leave. Indeed, Hurtig struggled throughout her three-year stay and though she can be a great talent, Arsenal could not get enough out of her, so it was the right choice to part ways. Fiorentina are getting a Champions League winner for nothing, which is a massive boost for the Italian side.
Laia Aleixandri
Free
Man City: C-
Barcelona: A
City have lost a key and versatile player, who stepped up to take the captaincy in the absence of Alex Greenwood. Part of the core leadership group at City, Aleixandri and Roord will be hard to replace. But it's a great signing for Barcelona, who lost Engen to OL Lyonnes.
June 22
Iman Beney
Undisclosed
BSC YB Frauen: B-
Man City: A-
A very exciting move for a young player. Joining a better club was always expected for the 18-year-old Beney, who wanted to recover from her ACL injury with her former club before looking for a new challenge. City have spots that need to be filled, and the young forward from Switzerland will bring some drive and hunger to the side. The fee City paid will also help Young Boys Frauen a lot financially.
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June 18
Jade Rose
Undisclosed
Harvard University: C
Man City: A+
Rose's time at university was coming to an end and, after facing tough competition from other WSL sides, City secured her signature. It is a great move for a young and promising defender who is already rooted in Canada's national team setup. The move plugs a much-needed gap in City's defense after the loss of Aleixandri, and the long-term development of the 22-year-old will likely pay dividends.
Livia Peng
Undisclosed
Werder Bremen: B
Chelsea: C
Though Chelsea's plan is to create a pipeline of young talent over the next four years, it is hard to see where Peng fits into this. She's 22 and, with Chelsea having also signed 20-year-old Femke Liefting and with academy graduate Katie Cox on the books, too, Peng will struggle for playing time. It is unlikely she'll play in the first season, but it is hard to see her breaking into the team after that, with Hannah Hampton firmly holding the starting spot and two young players also vying for a chance. Peng is competing for the No. 1 spot with Elvira Herzog for the Switzerland national team, and a lack of minutes with her new club won't help her case.
Mara Alber
Undisclosed
Hoffenheim: B-
Chelsea: B
Another youngster who is part of Chelsea's future planning, Alber is also unlikely to play much in her first season, but with time and a four-year deal, it is easy to see her breaking into the lineup in a season or two. Though she's 19, a loan move would be ideal to keep her progressing before she gets her chance to shine in West London. Hoffenheim have lost a key player who would have been a shining star, though these less-competitive clubs will struggle to fend off interest from the top European sides.