The January transfer window in the WSL and WSL2 is rarely a quiet affair, but this year’s edition felt especially revealing. It exposed the widening gap between clubs with resources to reshape their squads mid‑season and those who must operate with caution, creativity, and a heavy reliance on internal development. It also highlighted the shifting ambitions across the division, with some sides aggressively strengthening for promotion pushes or survival battles, while others, notably Sunderland, opted
for a more restrained approach that has left supporters both understanding and quietly frustrated.
The WSL2 is a league defined by its contradictions: home to clubs with Premier League backing and others reliant on community‑driven models; a division where ambition often outstrips budget. The January window, then, becomes a mirror, reflecting not only squad needs but also the structural realities each club faces.
So let us explore each team’s business, the motivations behind their moves, and the broader patterns emerging across the league. Then turn to Sunderland: our limited activity, the reliance on loans, the understandable but still disappointing lack of permanent additions, and the unavoidable comparison with Newcastle’s headline‑grabbing recruitment drive. It asks the question many Sunderland supporters have quietly pondered: could more have been done? And if not, what does that say about the club’s ambition for its women’s side?
Birmingham City
Few clubs approached the window with as much intent as Birmingham City. Their business was extensive, ambitious, and clearly designed to elevate the squad for the second half of the season. The arrivals of Asato Miyagawa from Hammarby and Michaela Kovacs from Vålerenga added international pedigree and defensive solidity, while Wilma Leidhammar from IFK Norrköping brought attacking threat and versatility. Hannah Silcock from Liverpool strengthened the midfield, and Lotta Lindström from London City added further depth.
Shanade Hopcroft’s arrival from Crystal Palace was one of the more intriguing moves of the window, offering creativity and WSL2 experience. Birmingham’s recruitment strategy was clear: build a squad capable of competing at the very top of the division, with a blend of youth, experience, and international quality.
Their outgoings were equally notable. Ebonie Locke, Poppy Irvine, Tegan McGowan, Ava Baker, Lily Agg and Riya Mannu all departed, either permanently or on loan, as Birmingham reshaped their squad with purpose. This was a club making a statement, one that suggested they see themselves not merely as contenders, but as a side determined to return to the WSL.
Bristol City
Bristol City’s window was defined by quality rather than quantity. Katie Robinson’s arrival from Aston Villa was a standout signing, bringing pace, directness, and top‑flight experience. Lauren Brzykcy from Piteå and Oliwia Woś from Nürnberg added defensive stability, while Camila Sáez from West Ham strengthened the spine of the team. Jessie Gale from Arsenal rounded out a window that felt measured, intelligent, and aligned with Bristol’s long‑term vision.
Their outgoings, Tianna Teisar and Malaika Meena, were modest in comparison, suggesting a club that feels confident in its direction and sought only to refine, not overhaul.
Charlton Athletic
Charlton have been one of the Championship’s more ambitious sides in recent seasons, and their January business reflected that. Katie Lockwood from Glasgow City and Lizzie Waldie from Hearts added experience and leadership.
The departure of Zoe Barratt to AFC Bournemouth was the only significant outgoing, leaving Charlton with a strengthened, more balanced squad. Their recruitment was purposeful, reinforcing their status as a club with genuine promotion aspirations.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace’s window was one of the most eye‑catching in the division. Hayley Ladd’s arrival from Everton was a major coup, a player with WSL pedigree, leadership qualities, and the ability to control games from midfield. Kelly Brady from Athlone Town and Lucy Newell from Manchester United added depth and versatility across the pitch.
Shanade Hopcroft’s departure to Birmingham and Isabella Sibley’s arrival at IFK Norrkoping did raise eyebrows.
Durham
Durham’s window was quiet but defined by targeted, sensible additions. Dee Bradley from Burnley added defensive steel. Lily Agg’s arrival from Birmingham provided experience and composure in midfield.
Durham rarely overhaul their squad mid‑season, preferring continuity and cohesion, and their January business reflected that philosophy. It was understated but effective, the kind of window that strengthens a squad without disrupting its identity.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich were one of the busiest clubs in the division, and their window reflected a club determined to establish itself at WSL2level. Colette Cavanagh from Deportivo, Lucy Ashworth‑Clifford from Lazio, and Lysianne Proulx from Juventus were headline arrivals, bringing international experience and technical quality.
Kit Graham from Tottenham, Kenzie Weir from Everton, and Ava Baker from Birmingham added depth and versatility, while Nelly Las from Leicester and Malaika Meena from Bristol City strengthened the midfield. Princess Ademiluyi from Gotham FC was one of the more exciting signings, offering pace and unpredictability.
Their academy‑focused additions, Nina Meollo and Ruby Seaby, reflected Ipswich’s commitment to youth development. This was a window that blended ambition with identity, positioning Ipswich as a club determined not to go back down.
Newcastle United
Newcastle’s window was, unsurprisingly, the most dramatic in the division. Their recruitment was loud, ambitious, and financially assertive, a reflection of a club with Premier League backing and a clear desire to climb the women’s football pyramid quickly.
Kaitlyn Torpey from Portland Thorns, Emilia Larsson from Rosengård, and Simone Charley from Orlando Pride were marquee arrivals, bringing international pedigree and attacking firepower as well as, Ashanti Akpan from Southampton.
Newcastle’s business was not subtle. It was a statement of intent, a declaration that they intend to challenge for promotion immediately. Their window stood in stark contrast to many of their WSL2 rivals and, inevitably, to Sunderland.
Nottingham Forest
Forest’s window was one of the most intriguing. Libby Smith, Joy Omewa, Alana Murphy, Leanne Kiernan, Rebekah Dowsett, Cerys Brown, and Olivia Johnson all arrived, giving Forest one of the most extensive recruitment drives in the division.
Their outgoings, Caragh Hamilton to Sunderland and Casey Howe to Wolves, were notable, but Forest’s overall business suggested a club intent on consolidating and climbing the table. Their recruitment blended experience, youth, and international talent, positioning them as one of the window’s most active and ambitious sides.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s window was modest but purposeful. Charlie Estcourt last at DC Power and Lucy Shepherd from Dallas Trinity added attacking options, while academy development registrations for Niamh Peacock and Evie Milner reflected a commitment to youth.
Portsmouth’s business was not headline‑grabbing, but it was coherent, the kind of window that strengthens a squad without overstretching. Especially as they fight to survive.
Sheffield United
Sheffield United made two key additions: Simone Sherwood from Leicester and Tammi George from Wolves. Both signings added depth and experience, particularly in midfield and defence. They also added loan signings in Scarlett Hill from Manchester United and Shauna Guyatt from Ipswich Town. It was a quiet window, but one that addressed specific needs.
Southampton
Southampton’s window was defined by only one arrival: Tegan McGowan from Birmingham City. A player who brings energy and technical quality, strengthening a squad that has been steadily building over the past two seasons.
Southampton’s recruitment reflected a club with growing ambition, one that sees itself as capable of challenging the established order.
Sunderland
And then we come to Sunderland, a club whose January window has sparked more debate, frustration, and introspection than perhaps any other in the WSL2.
Sunderland’s business consisted of two loan signings: Mared Griffiths from Manchester United and Caragh Hamilton from Nottingham Forest. Both are talented players, both will contribute, and both fit the club’s long‑standing philosophy of promoting youth, developing talent, and operating sustainably.
But it is also fair, and entirely human, to feel a sense of disappointment.
When other clubs around you are making permanent additions, strengthening decisively, and generating excitement among their supporters, it becomes difficult not to compare. And when that comparison includes Newcastle, the contrast becomes even starker.
Newcastle’s window was a spectacle. Sunderland’s was quiet.
Newcastle’s business was a statement. Sunderland’s was pragmatic.
Newcastle’s ambition was visible. Sunderland’s was implied, internal, and, to many supporters, insufficiently expressed.
The question many Sunderland supporters have asked is simple: could we not have brought in someone else? Someone permanent? Someone who could change games?
Given Sunderland’s position in the league, competitive, ambitious, and within touching distance of something meaningful but also something catastrophic, it would not have been unreasonable to expect at least one marquee addition. A creative midfielder. A clinical forward. A defender with top‑flight experience. A player who could turn tight games in Sunderland’s favour.
But football is rarely that straightforward. It is entirely possible, even likely, that Sunderland were in talks with players. Negotiations may have taken place. Targets may have been identified. Deals may have been close. But for whatever reason, finances, competition, timing, player preference, they could not get them over the line.
This is the reality of operating in a league where resources vary dramatically. Sunderland’s model prioritises sustainability, internal development, and long‑term planning. It is a model that has produced results, but it is also one that can feel limiting during transfer windows, especially when rivals are making bold moves.
There is also the broader, more uncomfortable question: does the club match the ambition of its supporters when it comes to the women’s team?
Sunderland’s women’s side has enormous potential, a rich history, and a passionate fanbase. But potential alone does not win promotions, and passion alone does not sign players. The reliance on loans, while useful, does not build long‑term squad stability. It fills gaps but does not lay foundations.
And while promoting from within is admirable, and something Sunderland do exceptionally well, and I myself personally am proud of and love to see, it cannot be the only strategy if the club wants to compete with the likes of Newcastle, Birmingham, or Charlton.
The frustration, then, is not rooted in entitlement but in aspiration. Sunderland supporters know what this club can be. They know the talent within the squad. They know the potential of the academy. They know the passion of the fanbase. And they want the club’s ambition to match that potential.
This January window, unfortunately, did not feel like a step in that direction.
The WSL2 is evolving. Clubs are investing more, the standard is rising, and the gap between the top and bottom is widening. Ambition is becoming a competitive advantage, and those who invest wisely are reaping the rewards.
Sunderland are at a crossroads. Their identity as a club that develops young talent is a strength, but it must be complemented by strategic recruitment if they are to keep pace with the division’s most ambitious sides. The January window highlighted this tension: the desire to remain sustainable versus the need to be competitive.
It is entirely possible that Sunderland will still achieve their goals this season. The squad is talented, cohesive, and well‑coached. But the window was a missed opportunity to add that extra spark, that game‑changer, that player who could turn draws into wins and narrow losses into points gained.
The 2025/26 January transfer window in the WSL2 told a story of ambition, caution, and contrast. Some clubs strengthened boldly, others quietly, and a few, like Sunderland, left supporters with mixed emotions.
It is not unreasonable to feel disappointed. It is not unreasonable to compare. And it is not unreasonable to want more for a club with Sunderland’s history, potential, and identity.
But it is also important to acknowledge the complexities behind the scenes. Deals fall through. Budgets are finite. Philosophies shape decisions. And sometimes, the moves you want to make simply cannot be made.
The hope, then, is that Sunderland’s long‑term vision will eventually align with the ambition of its supporters. That the club will invest not just in its academy but in its first team. That future windows will bring not just loans but permanent additions. And that Sunderland will take their place among the WSL2’s most ambitious clubs, not just in spirit, but in action.
For now, the season continues. The squad remains strong. The potential remains enormous. And the story of Sunderland’s ambition is still being written.
