Women's Football

Chelsea are looking to sell a minority stake in their women's club — is this a good decision?

In the space of four days Emma Hayes went from publicly conceding Chelsea were unlikely to defend the Women’s Super League (WSL) title, before proclaiming the race was “not f****** over” on the Kingsmeadow pitch. League leaders Manchester City’s defeat to Arsenal coupled with Chelsea’s 8-0 win over already relegated Bristol City has left the WSL title race tantalisingly poised heading into the final day of the season. So, who needs what to ensure they finish top of the pile come May 18? The Athletic has the run down of the permutations. City moved level on...

Manchester United’s women’s team were not told about the club’s decision to cancel the traditional end of season awards dinner until after it became public. The Athletic reported on Sunday that United cancelled the event, scheduled for May 20, as they do not want to provide any distractions ahead of the upcoming men’s FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25. The club typically holds an end of season dinner at Old Trafford, where they present accolades such as the Sir Matt Busby player of the year award and recognise breakthrough young talent. The event is...

Emma Hayes will face no disciplinary action from UEFA for her comments about the refereeing performance during Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final loss to Barcelona. The Chelsea manager called Kadeisha Buchanan’s sending off in the second leg “the worst decision in UEFA Women’s Champions League history”. Buchanan was shown a second yellow card by referee Iuliana Demetrescu after 59 minutes at Stamford Bridge as she was penalised for a foul on Patri Guijarro. The Canada defender appeared to initially win the ball before catching the back of Guijarro’s knee with her trailing...

Aggie Beever-Jones has received her first senior England call up and Millie Bright returns to the squad following a five-month injury absence for the Lionesses’ upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers. Sarina Wiegman has named a 24-player group for the fixtures against France, Republic of Ireland and Sweden plus four standby players. Manchester United defender Maya Le Tissier, Liverpool midfielder Missy Bo Kearns, Tottenham Hotspur forward Jess Naz and Southampton goalkeeper Kayla Rendell are the players on the standby list. Beever-Jones, 20, has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Chelsea...

Arsenal have announced that the Emirates Stadium will be the primary home ground for the women’s team next season. The club intend to host 11 matches at the Emirates — eight of their 11 Women’s Super League (WSL) home fixtures and three Champions League games. Depending on progress in Europe’s elite competition, it would also mean all home legs in the knockout rounds would be played in the stadium. The remaining cup fixtures in the FA Cup and League Cup will be played at Meadow Park. Arsenal’s home matches have historically been held at Meadow Park, home of National League...

Vivianne Miedema is the Women's Super League record scorer, but she will leave Arsenal after a difficult year following injury

Chelsea have received interest from investors seeking to acquire a minority stake in their women’s team, with the club’s owners prepared to consider proposals. Chelsea value the women’s side — which has won the last four Women’s Super League (WSL) titles in a row — on par with Angel City, the most valuable franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Angel City valued was at $180million (£143m) by Sportico earlier this year and Chelsea could target minority investment that would value the west London club’s women’s side at $200m. In March, The Athletic...

UEFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to referee the men’s Champions League final, while English official Rebecca Welch will take charge of the women’s final. Vincic, 44, will be assisted by compatriots Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic for June’s showpiece between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, while Rade Obrenovic is on VAR. It is the same team of officials who took charge of the Champions League quarter-final second leg between Dortmund and Atletico Madrid. The fixture at Wembley marks the second major European final Vincic has been appointed to as referee...

Marc Skinner has reiterated his desire to remain as Manchester United Women’s manager after guiding his side to their maiden major trophy with Sunday’s FA Cup final win. United beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at Wembley to secure their first piece of silverware since the women’s team’s reformation in 2018, but Skinner has come in for criticism from sections of supporters after a disappointing season in the Women’s Super League. The Athletic reported in April United had offered the 41-year-old a new contract, with his deal set to expire in the summer. The decision to...

Spurs can be proud of a season in which they showed real progress against sides with much bigger budgets

Once the celebrations are over, United should reflect on where this season has left them overall

Manchester United have won their first-ever FA Cup after beating Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s final. The first half was relatively even before England international Ella Toone opened the scoring with a superb effort from distance shortly before half-time. United then started the second half the better side and doubled their lead through striker Rachel Williams, who headed home from a deep Katie Zelem free kick in the 54th minute. Tottenham goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer then gifted United a third three minutes later, passing the ball straight to Lucia Garcia who calmly slotted the ball into the...

Manchester United are splitting their hierarchy today as the men’s team hosts Arsenal in a crucial Premier League match while the women’s side contests the FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. Minority investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be in attendance at Old Trafford as the men look to keep pace with Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for continental qualification. Co-owner Avram Glazer, meanwhile, will be in London as the women seek to lift the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Glazer and Ratcliffe attended the men’s FA Cup...

Manchester United striker Nikita Parris turned down a lucrative move to the United States last month, prioritising her team’s bid to win the FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Despite her contract expiring this summer, Parris was subject to a previously unreported pursuit by National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side North Carolina Courage. An agreement had been reached between the clubs before the April 19 transfer deadline in what would have marked a record women’s sale for United, while the 30-year-old forward stood to earn £1million over a three-year deal. All...