"Saturday's finale to the Women's Super League season marks the end of an era, and not only because it is the final time the division will operate with 12 teams before the expansion to 14. A multitude of players synonymous with their clubs in recent years are all making end-of-contract departures and the forward lines, in particular, of many of the top sides will not look the same again."
"Thursday's confirmation of Sam Kerr's exit from Chelsea, added to Monday's announcement that Beth Mead will leave Arsenal and last week's news that Khadija Bunny Shaw has decided to leave Manchester City, means the division's top three clubs are saying farewell to forwards who have been modern icons of their clubs and the striker market will enter a fascinating summer. That trio have scored a combined 316 goals for their clubs and will leave with at least one WSL title under their belts; Kerr has five."
"Something of a merry-go-round could begin, with Mead understood to be close to a move to Manchester City, but the earliest a player moving on a free between WSL sides can sign for their new club is 1 June, when they are inside the final month of their contract. Kerr has been heavily linked with a move back to the NWSL in the US but her destination is undecided."
"Chelsea are the favourites to secure Shaw, and their need to sign the Jamaican has only been put into even sharper focus by Kerr's exit. They are not the only strikers switching clubs, with the Tottenham captain, Bethany England, poised for an emotional farewell after playing a talismanic role at the club for three and a half years, during which she has scored 32 league goals. Her services will be highly sought after, too, and the striker market has an extra element of intrigue with several of this season's top scorers in the WSL behind Shaw about to enter the final year of their deals."
Saturday’s Women’s Super League finale ends an era as the league moves from 12 teams to 14. Several key forwards are departing on contract expiry, including Sam Kerr leaving Chelsea, Beth Mead leaving Arsenal, and Khadija Bunny Shaw leaving Manchester City. The top three clubs are losing modern icons, with the trio having scored 316 combined goals and holding WSL titles. Transfer timing rules allow free transfers between WSL sides only from 1 June, while Kerr’s next destination remains undecided despite links to the NWSL. Chelsea are viewed as favourites to sign Shaw, and Tottenham’s Bethany England is also expected to move after scoring 32 league goals in three and a half years. Additional top scorers face contract decisions, including Kirsty Hanson and Vivianne Miedema.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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