Between Naomi Girma’s €1 million move to Chelsea, Kerolin’s free transfer to Manchester City and Jenna Nighswonger’s surprise switch to Arsenal, it is safe to say that the January transfer window saw quite a few blockbuster signings made in the English Women’s Super League. So, can it stake a claim to being the strongest women’s league in world football?
By Neel Shelat
The English Premier League irrefutably is the strongest domestic competition in men’s football, and by some margin at that. It continues to widen the gap to the chasing pack every year, as its astronomical broadcasting revenue (among other things) helps strengthen the spending power of all 20 of its clubs. Today, various models suggest that about 15 of its contestants can claim to be among the top 50 clubs in the world.
The picture isn’t quite as clear-cut in the women’s game. Many would agree that Barcelona have the strongest team in the world, but the lack of serious domestic competition for them prevents Spain’s Liga F from staking a claim to the top spot. The debate boils down to two other leagues: the English Women’s Super League – which has four of the strongest teams in world football – and the National Women’s Soccer League, which also has some very strong teams and is more competitive from top to bottom.
The lack of a women’s Club World Cup makes it all the more difficult to come up with a definitive answer, but one factor we can look at is transfer flows. There have been some major developments in that respect this month, as 2023 NWSL Defender of the Year Naomi Girma joined Chelsea for a world-record €1 million transfer fee, 2023 Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger moved to Arsenal and 2023 MVP Kerolin signed for Manchester City.
With more rumours swirling about potential moves to England for other NWSL stars including Trinity Rodman and Sam Coffey, many have started to wonder whether the WSL is now firmly overtaking it as the strongest league in women’s football. However, a closer look reveals a more nuanced situation.
WSL’s lower table getting left behind
From the WSL’s perspective, it is worth noting that the league’s apparent uptick in spending is pretty much solely driven by the top clubs. Chelsea alone have been responsible for the vast majority of transfer spending this season as they also spent €500,000 on Keira Walsh besides bringing in Girma. They also paid a then world-record fee for Mayra Ramírez last year, while Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United also spent decent amounts on players from other European leagues.
Among the rest, the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur occasionally make a notable move (such as the Reds’ €250,000 signing of Olivia Smith last summer), but most of the lower table sides behind them hardly make any waves. As a result, the gap between the title contenders and the rest only keeps widening. At the time of writing, for example, fifth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion have half as many points as leaders Chelsea, while nearly half the division is averaging less than a point per game.
The financial disparity in the WSL is unlikely to be bridged anytime soon. As of last season, the top four accounted for two-thirds of the 12 clubs’ aggregate revenue. Interestingly, a significant portion of their income came in the form of ‘group income’, which Deloitte defines as “revenue attributable to the women’s club from full club-wide commercial agreements, and contributions from the men’s club”.
With that in mind, it should be easy to understand why sides like Chelsea, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs are running away at the top of the WSL; they are backed by some of the strongest and richest clubs in world football. Liverpool and Tottenham likely have the potential to match them, but the rest surely cannot keep up.
NWSL remains a hub for global talent
After recent developments, some have suggested that the NWSL’s financial regulations such as the wage cap and transfer budget will hold the league back as investment in the women’s game continues to grow. While that may be the case to some extent as star players might move abroad to earn bigger paychecks, it is undeniable that these rules have kept the league very competitive.
According to Opta’s women’s club rankings, all but one of the NWSL teams are among the top 30 in the world. The league’s top five are in the global top 15, while lowest-ranked Houston Dash are only 39th. By contrast, the WSL has four of the global top six, but each of its six bottom-half teams are below the Dash.
There are various factors besides financial restrictions that have kept the NWSL extremely competitive. For one, the collegiate soccer system provided the division with a constant stream of top-class talents. As recently as a few years ago, it was arguably one of the best talent development pathways in the women’s game, in lieu of professional clubs and academies. While its future is not quite so certain after the NWSL decided to do away with the draft, its historical impact cannot be overlooked.
As the women’s game continues to grow, the NWSL has established itself as a hub for top talents from all around the world. It is no coincidence that some of the very best African, Asian and South American players including Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Hina Sugita, Marta and Debinha are plying their trade in the league right now. While big transfers away such as those of Girma, Kerolin and Nighswonger make all the headlines, quieter signings such as Prisca Chilufya and Daiane underscore the fact that the NWSL’s status is unlikely to change anytime soon.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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