The Women’s Super League (WSL) made its much-awaited return this past weekend with gameweek 11. As the action resumed after the winter break, several teams debuted their new signings in the league, and many of them quickly made an impact. This January transfer window has brought some fresh faces to the WSL, with new arrivals from various top European leagues eager to prove their worth in England’s top-flight.
Chelsea continued their dominance at the top of the table, while Manchester City experienced a derby day disaster, which saw them drop to fourth place. Arsenal and Manchester United, meanwhile, are now neck-and-neck in the race for second, and the relegation battle is intensifying.
Here’s a closer look at the January signings who made their league debuts in gameweek 11 of the WSL:
Everton’s Busy January: Five Debuts in One Game
Everton has been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer window, with five new recruits making their debut in the same match against Aston Villa. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Hayley Ladd (Everton)
The Welsh midfielder made the switch from Manchester United to Everton earlier this month, and she was quick to make her debut for the Toffees in their 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. Ladd, who has been somewhat limited for game time at United, started for Brian Sorensen’s side and delivered a strong performance in the heart of the midfield. Her contribution was crucial in the buildup to Everton’s late equalizer, though she was substituted just minutes before Veatriki Sarri’s goal salvaged a point for the Merseyside club.
Ladd’s move to Everton offers her an opportunity to showcase her abilities more regularly ahead of Euro 2025 with Wales. After playing just 8 minutes in the WSL for Manchester United in the first half of the season, she’ll be hoping that this fresh start will provide more opportunities for playing time.
Louna Ribadeira (Everton)
Replacing Ladd in the 80th minute, Louna Ribadeira had a brief but energetic cameo for Everton. The 20-year-old striker, who was recently recalled from her loan spell at Paris FC by Chelsea, signed for Everton this January. Ribadeira’s debut was promising; her work in the penalty box allowed Sarri the space to score the crucial equalizer in the 89th minute. Although her debut was short, Ribadeira’s intensity and sharpness were clear, and she will be an exciting player to watch for the Toffees moving forward.
Martina Fernandez (Everton)
On loan from Barcelona, 20-year-old defender Martina Fernandez made her first start for Everton in the same match against Villa. Fernandez had a tough task, facing off against one of the WSL’s top goal scorers, Rachel Daly. Despite conceding early in the match to Daly, Fernandez recovered well and showed resilience in her performance. While it was a challenging debut, Fernandez’s ability to bounce back and hold her ground against such a formidable opponent was impressive and should give Everton fans hope for her future at the club.
Kelly Gago (Everton)
Kelly Gago, another of Everton’s January signings, made her debut in the 54th minute, coming on as a substitute for Toni Payne. The French striker joined Everton from FC Nantes, where she spent just a single season before making the jump to the WSL. With injuries to key players such as Aurora Galli and Inma Gabarro, Everton was desperate to bolster their attacking options, and Gago’s arrival looks like a promising move.
Although she didn’t get on the scoresheet in her debut, Gago’s presence and movement in the attack gave Everton a fresh attacking dynamic. She will be crucial for the Toffees as they navigate the second half of the season.
Emma Watson (Everton)
Completing the quintet of debutants for Everton was 18-year-old midfielder Emma Watson, who joined the club on loan from Manchester United. Watson was introduced in the 54th minute, replacing Katja Snoejis in the midfield. The young Welsh international is hoping to gain significant experience during her loan spell at Everton before returning to United in the summer.
Watson’s debut was a solid start, and she will be hoping to earn more minutes and continue to develop under manager Brian Sorensen. With Everton’s midfield needing fresh energy and creativity, Watson could become an important player as the season progresses.
Other Notable Debuts in Gameweek 11
In addition to Everton’s busy transfer window, several other clubs made key signings that debuted in WSL gameweek 11. Here are some notable ones:
Lize Kop (Tottenham Hotspur)
Lize Kop, a Dutch goalkeeper, made her debut for Tottenham Hotspur in a high-stakes encounter against her former club, Leicester City. The timing couldn’t have been more dramatic—just one week after departing the Foxes, Kop was between the posts for Spurs in this fixture. She was a solid presence in goal and played a key role in Spurs’ 1-0 victory, which came thanks to an own goal from Leicester’s Janina Leitzig.
Kop had struggled to secure the number one spot at Leicester, but her move to Tottenham could provide her with the fresh start she needs. Spurs will rely on Kop to bring stability and leadership to their defense as they look to improve on their strong showing from last season.
Rebecca Knaak (Manchester City)
Rebecca Knaak’s debut for Manchester City was one she will likely want to forget. The German defender, who joined City from FC Rosengard on the first day of the January transfer window, started in the derby against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. Unfortunately for Knaak and her teammates, City suffered a 3-2 defeat, with defensive mistakes Knaak included being a major issue.
Despite the tough result, Knaak did score City’s second goal of the match, heading home from a corner. However, her defensive performance left much to be desired as City’s defense looked vulnerable. Knaak will be hoping to settle into her new role and shore up City’s defense, particularly in the absence of captain Alex Greenwood due to injury.
Sam Kerr (Liverpool)
Liverpool also welcomed a new signing in January with the arrival of midfielder Sam Kerr, who joined the club on loan from Bayern Munich. The Scotland international made her debut for the Reds in their 2-1 win over Brighton on Friday evening. Kerr started the match, and her presence in midfield brought composure and control to Liverpool’s play.
Kerr had struggled to break into the Bayern Munich starting lineup, but her loan move to Liverpool provides her with an excellent opportunity to showcase her skills in a new environment. Liverpool will benefit from Kerr’s experience and ability to dictate the tempo in midfield as they look to climb up the WSL table.
Conclusion
The January transfer window has certainly shaken up the WSL, with several high-profile signings making their debuts during gameweek 11. Everton’s five debutants highlighted the busiest transfer activity of the weekend, with the Toffees eager to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season. Meanwhile, other clubs like Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool also welcomed new faces, and it will be exciting to see how these players adapt to the rigors of the WSL.
As the season progresses, these new signings will undoubtedly play pivotal roles in their teams’ ambitions, whether it’s in the race for the title, securing European football, or battling to avoid relegation. The WSL is shaping up to be an exciting competition, and these new arrivals will certainly add to the drama and intrigue in the months ahead.
