Top five European transfers in women's football 2025-26

The most exciting signings from this summer's transfer window

Jule Brand has joined Lyon. Credit: Getty Images

The summer transfer window is a time of overhaul for teams across the world. Addressing shortcomings from the previous season and strengthening the squad further, it all happens in the off-season.

This summer has seen record-breaking moves, big reshuffles and everything in between in women’s football. Transfer fees have become much more common across WoSo. We have seen the first transfer over £1m – and that record broken in the same window.

Here are five exciting transfers in Europe to look out for in the coming season.

Jule Brand (Wolfsburg to Lyon)

The reigning French champions secured the signing of the Germany international Jule Brand from Wolfsburg. The German winger was part of a 10-player summer exodus at Wolfsburg that saw Sveindís Jónsdóttir, Merle Frohms, Lynn Wilms and others leave the club.

Brand’s experience belies her age. The 22-year-old has already made over 100 senior league appearances in the Frauen-Bundesliga across two clubs. The rapid winger is an excellent ball carrier and blessed with skills in 1v1 situations.

She has averaged more than six dribbles per game over the past three seasons, one of the best rates for any winger in Europe. Brand is constantly looking to cut inside and rack up touches inside the box, adding to her goal threat along with her ability to create chances. She has an excellent shot on her – see her Euros goal against Poland for example – making her a threat from range as well.

The former Hoffenheim winger has yet to hit double figures in the league for goals or assists but has perennially seemed on the cusp of a breakout. Playing for a transition heavy attack like Lyon seems like a perfect platform for that. Her long strides make her an exceptional option in transition situations.

Brand’s impressive run at the Euros has only amplified excitement around the move. Her defensive effort for Germany revealed a new, well-rounded version of the youngster. She consistently drops deep to help her full-back, covers plenty of ground off the ball and excels in 1v1 physical duels.

Beyond her obvious qualities on and off the ball, the youngster is capable of playing in several positions. She can be deployed as a winger with different responsibilities and is also capable of playing as the No 10 behind a recognised striker.

These qualities make her a dream signing for any manager, and Jonatan Giráldez will likely get the most out of her at Lyon next season.

Lily Yohannes (Ajax to Lyon)

The 18-year-old USA international was one of the most sought-after young players this summer. The young midfielder caught attention while becoming the youngest player to start a Uefa Women’s Champions League group stage game with Ajax in 2023. Despite her young age, she had already played 50 league games for the Dutch side.

The midfielder is a delight on the ball. The weight on her touches and passes is perfect more often than not. The youngster has an innate understanding of the release time on her passes, allowing her to break lines.

One of Yohannes’s standout qualities is her body orientation when receiving a pass and how quickly she can change direction, making her a cheat code in breaking set defences or beating a marker: a skill mirroring the likes of elite midfielders like Yui Hasegawa, Alexia Putellas and others.

Yohannes often likes to take risks with her passing, resulting in a slightly higher turnover rate. Her two-footedness and variety of passes, from line-breaking ground passes to lofted balls over the top, adds a layer of unpredictability about her.

While her defensive starting position is good, her work-rate without the ball can still improve. As a young player she often phases in and out of a game and can have lapses without the ball. She is still evolving physically, which puts her at a slight disadvantage in physical duels at times.

An 18-year-old being regarded as a transformative signing might seem an exaggeration, but Yohannes is one.

Alyssa Thompson (Angel City to Chelsea)

Credit: Getty Images

Chelsea completed the transfer of the talented winger Alyssa Thompson on deadline day. The US international joins for a club-record fee of just under £1 million, according to the BBC.

The 20-year-old is an electric presence on the wings, capable of playing on either flanks. The youngster is comfortable using both feet to get her shots off, adding a layer of unpredictability to her game. This ability, coupled with her deft touche,s allows her to turn defenders inside out.

She is a very adept ball carrier with an excellent change of pace, making it easier for her to lose her marker. She ranks in the top 10 for both progressive carries and carries into the penalty area in the NWSL this season, underlining her ability to move the ball into dangerous areas.

The youngster has a wicked shot on her, capable of finding the net from all sorts of situations. While her goalscoring output isn’t among the world’s best yet, her underlying numbers and positioning is improving in this regard. She has received the fourth most progressive passes this season in the NWSL (124).

Thompson will add threat on the ball and depth in attack for Chelsea, with Mayra Ramirez and Lauren James missing the start of the season and Sam Kerr just returning from a lay-off.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG to Lyon)

A third OL Lyonnes signing on the list, and she is arguably one of the best strikers in world football.

The forward has been scoring goals for fun for one of Lyon’s biggest rivals, Paris Saint-Germain, over the years. After picking out her partner, Kadidiatou Diani, from that PSG attack earlier, Lyon have completed their collection.

Katoto’s goalscoring record speaks for itself. She is a high-volume shot taker and goalscorer, scoring more than 10 goals in each of her last seven seasons and passing 20 league goals three times. She has everything in her goalscoring repertoire, making her a threat from any situation.

Her positioning and movement inside the box are absolutely elite, allowing her to shake off markers and create shooting space. She can generate tremendous power in her shots from tight angles and with minimal backlift. The timing of her runs is excellent, allowing her to get in behind defences regularly.

Her frame allows her to hold off challenges and combine with her back to goal, making her an excellent reference point in attack. She regularly presents herself as a passing option higher up the pitch, adding verticality to the side’s possession play.

The eight-time European champions have assembled an Avengers-esque lineup in attack. However, the success of this team will hinge on how they balance their lineup in midfield and defence.

Olivia Smith (Liverpool to Arsenal)

Arsenal were crowned European champions in 2025 after beating Barcelona in Lisbon. The Gunners have built on that success and are eyeing domestic glory with the signing of Olivia Smith for a record-breaking transfer fee.

The Canadian became the first player to break the £1m barrier in women’s football. The 20-year-old forward was a talisman for Liverpool, scoring almost a third of their goals last season. The former Sporting CP player scored against Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United across all competitions last season.

The youngster is brilliant at exploiting space in behind defences with her carries. Her acceleration and change of direction are excellent, making her a menace to deal with. These qualities make her adept at generating separation, allowing her to create shots for herself from nothing.

Her nimble-footed style allows her to draw fouls in dangerous areas, with only Vivianne Asseyi (51) winning more than Smith last season (46). Her work-rate without the ball is exemplary and will help Arsenal’s high-press system. In fact, last season only Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey (24) made more tackles in the final third than Smith (20).

The forward will add tactical flexibility to Renée Slegers’ side, providing options in attack. The Canadian international has played on the wings and up front in a line of two equally well. This sets up Arsenal perfectly to replace some of their wingers in the future as well.

Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid to PSG)

Paris Saint-Germain have lost another chunk of their core players to Lyon this summer. However, one arrival could prove exciting, even if the squad quality is dwindling.

The Parisian side have signed Rasheedat Ajibade from Atlético Madrid this summer. The forward arrives on the back of a successful summer with Nigeria, winning their 10th Wafcon title. She finished the campaign with one goal and two assists and was voted player of the tournament.

The 25-year-old has recorded 10+ goal contributions in each of the last three seasons for Atleti in the league and is about to enter her best years. She is likely to prove a talismanic figure for PSG in the coming season.

Ajibade is a right-footed winger who loves to hug the touchline and put crosses into the box. She loves to stretch the backline with her positioning and attack the byline with her runs, creating chances for others.

She likes to drive forward with the ball, running at defenders and beating them with her change of pace. The Nigerian ranked in the top five for both attempted dribbles and progressive carries in Liga F last season. She generally prefers to attack the outside of the defender on the right or cut inside from the left.

The Nigerian international has a powerful shot on her, ripping shots from range into the top corner. Her high and wide positioning makes her an excellent progressive outlet, receiving more progressive passes than any other Atlético Madrid player last season.

Ajibade’s signing is in line with PSG’s transitional attacking lineups of the recent past which featured players like Kadidiatou Diani and Tabitha Chawinga, who later joined Lyon.