Image source, Getty ImagesNaomi Girma (left) is now the most expensive women's footballer
Emily Salley BBC Sport journalist
Emma Sanders BBC Sport women’s football news reporter
It has been one of the biggest Women's Super League transfer windows in history - but what impact will Chelsea's spending have? The WSL leaders have invested in their women's team and are reaping the rewards, picking up five successive league titles and competing in the Champions League. They have strengthened even more in January, bringing in USA defender Naomi Girma for a world-record fee, and adding England midfielder Keira Walsh from Barcelona in another big-money move.
Chelsea 'win' the transfer window
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Girma won Olympic gold with the United States in Paris
Chelsea's rivals will not be pleased at how successful a window the club have had. Not only have Chelsea added two world-class players to their ranks, they have managed to swoop under their rivals' noses to get them. Walsh had been pursued by Arsenal, who had a then-world record bid turned down by Barcelona in September, while Lyon had offered over £1m (£806,428) for Naomi Girma. Their two additions are significant assets and will help them in search of a first Women's Champions League title. What is perhaps most pleasing for Chelsea is that they have proven how attractive the club is and it is not all about money, though clearly having the means to spend has helped. Lyon offered Girma higher wages than Chelsea but the USA defender felt the intensity of the competition in the WSL - albeit Chelsea have a strong seven-point lead currently - was better and she was sold on their long-term ambitions.
Are Chelsea's signings good or bad for the WSL?
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Keira Walsh previously played in the WSL with Manchester City
With Girma and Mayra Ramirez, plus another big-money deal agreed to sign Walsh, Chelsea will have the WSL's three most expensive players on their payroll. Former England captain Steph Houghton said she was "undecided" whether the fee paid for Girma was a "good thing". "My worry is that it is going to be two or three teams that are buying the best players, so what happens to the rest of the league?" Houghton said. Leicester City manager Amandine Miquel argued that the WSL could become similar to the French top division where Lyon have won 17 of the last 18 titles. "I should think any club would love to have no limits and some coaches are lucky enough to be at clubs that have no limits. Good for them," Miquel said. However, Miquel recognised that Girma's hefty price tag could be a lesson that encourages other clubs to invest heavily in players to avoid being left behind. "It's not ideal but it can also maybe give the other clubs intention to try and build the same thing," Miquel added.
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea signed Mayra Ramirez for a then British transfer record fee of £384,000 in January 2024
Ex-England striker Ellen White added: "Every team in the WSL needs to think 'do we want to be on this train or not?' because otherwise Chelsea will be running away with this for years." Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Marc Skinner said the world-record fee showed how far women's football has grown. "I wasn't old enough to be able to remember the first million pounds men's transfer but it shows a significant growth and for me, someone who's been in the women's game for 20-plus years now, it's a great sign of growth," he said.
Can anyone stop Chelsea?
With just 10 games of the season remaining, Chelsea are in pole position for a sixth-straight title. Seven points clear of closest challengers Manchester United, they are unbeaten in the league and still in the running for the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup as they chase a historic quadruple. "For Chelsea to go and sign Girma and break a record on the same day they defeat Arsenal just felt like a momentous day for the club," Beattie said. "They don't want to be stopped, they're going to go on and achieve absolutely everything." Becoming European champions will be a priority for the Blues this season, with the Women's Champions League the only major trophy to have eluded the club. There will be no shortage of Champions League winners among Chelsea's ranks with Walsh, Lucy Bronze, Catarina Macario and Kadeisha Buchanan all having won at least one title. Not only have the club brought in players that have tasted European glory, they recruited an experienced Champions League manager as Emma Hayes' successor. Bompastor won the competition twice as a player, while she guided French side Lyon to the trophy in 2022.
However, winning a maiden Champions League title will not be easy with 10-time winners Lyon and Barcelona, who beat Chelsea 4-0 in the 2021 final, still standing at the quarter-final stage.
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