This summer’s women’s football transfer window has been grander than ever before. Elite player moves and big transfer fees are now commonplace in the women’s game, representing a seismic shift in the way clubs are approaching recruitment. Clubs are happier than ever to spend money on players rather than waiting for contract expirations, and the one-million-euro mark has been exceeded multiple times in recent years.
This makes finding value-for-money transfers all the more important for clubs that still aren’t generating huge amounts of revenue. Most clubs are navigating this new world without much financial firepower, making shrewd business both difficult and essential. It’s hard to be sensible when it feels like the world has gone mad..
Whether it’s a like-for-like replacement or a left-field pick, sensible transfers make teams tick. Star players aside, teams need cogs in the wheel to complete their tactical puzzles and make those stars shine brighter. These transfers offer value that oftentimes far exceeds the money paid for them.
With that in mind, it’s time to pay attention to the rational, under-the-radar moves that could be the difference between glory and defeat.
Andrea Jacinto (CM, 24 year-old, Real Sociedad to Real Madrid)
Real Madrid have undergone a complete overhaul this summer, letting over 10 players go including club legend Caroline Weir, while bringing in big names such as the prodigious Felicia Schröder.
However, the best transfer Madrid has probably made this summer is a Portuguese midfielder from Real Sociedad. Andreia Jacinto joins Las Blancas after four years with La Real and helping them finish in Champions League spots last season.
Her goals tally might undersell her quality, with no goals in the last three years in the league. Her creative output isn’t anything to write home about, either – Jacinto only managed more than five assists in one of her last four seasons. As a replacement for Weir, it seems counter intuitive given Weir averaged almost a goal contribution every game.
However, the game isn’t just played in the final two thirds. Jacinto excels at what happens in the middle third, possessing an unglamorous ability to control tempo, circulate possession and progress the ball.
The right-footed midfielder is great at linking the thirds by dropping into pockets, turning away from pressure and finding the right ball. Her ability to anticipate and read the game is highly polished, and she can quickly identify the areas in which to attack and progress while also identifying opposition patterns of play to intercept and contain.
The 24-year-old also has the textbook elegance of a ball-dominant midfielder. She can receive on the half-turn and at pace with the field mapped in her mind. This allows her to quickly release the ball or carry it through the lines.
