by Sophie Puodzius (14/9/24)
Above: Mary Fowler, one of Sophie Puodzius’ five players ready to dominate the WSL in the new season. Photo: Adam Johnstone for Impetus.
The long-awaited 24/25 Women’s Super League season is set to get underway later this month just 42 days after the conclusion of the prestigious Paris Olympics, and here is my guide of four of the best overseas players to keep an eye on, along with one potential huge Lionesses star of the future.
The number of players moving to the WSL from abroad has increased exponentially over recent years due to the great opportunity for development that the league offers. This is because players are able to go up against tough opposition on a regular basis and compete for a number of coveted trophies.
The upcoming season hopes to build on this as we are increasingly seeing the rapid evolution of players who are rising through the ranks to establish themselves as big names within the WSL.
Here is a rundown of some of the most exciting players who are ready to take the WSL by storm in the 24/25 WSL season.
Sandy Baltimore
The former Paris St Germain winger made a move to West London back in July, signing a four-year contract with reigning WSL champions Chelsea.
The 24-year-old is an extremely versatile player who has the ability to impress across the attacking midfield and on both wings. As a natural left-footer, Baltimore is ruthless in front of goal, scoring 42 goals in nearly 200 appearances for PSG.
The French international was a key target for the incoming head coach Sonia Bompastor, who had recognised Baltimore’s potential from her time as manager at PSG’s rivals Lyon. The French international’s UEFA Champions League experience will undoubtedly prove to be crucial for a team who are seeking their first title in this competition.
Baltimore is a great addition to a newly revamped Chelsea side owing to her immense pace and agility. She is composed on the ball and can maintain possession which will contribute to the team’s hold-up play.
Her spatial awareness allows her to accurately execute both long and short passes which creates fluidity in Chelsea’s style of play. She also utilises her pace to outrun opponents before putting crosses into the penalty area,with an 89% take-on success rate last season.
Meanwhile, her shooting abilities could prove to be extremely crucial to Chelsea’s future success as her positioning and finishing in front of goal is first-class whilst she is also a confident penalty taker. This is because one of Chelsea’s weaknesses last season was their failure to capitalise upon their goal-scoring opportunities, perhaps most notably in the Champions League Semi-Final against Barcelona.
Overlooked by a sold-out Stamford Bridge, the Blues failed to convert their share of chances including a vicious effort from Erin Cuthbert which was fired over the bar.
Contrastingly, Barcelona took advantage of their attacking opportunities and sealed the win thanks to a late penalty which saw them through to the Champions League Final. In these highly competitive matches, Baltimore could alter Chelsea’s fortunes as she is an extremely creative player, averaging five shot-creating actions per game.
The French international initiates numerous attacking opportunities and isn’t afraid to shoot which could make her a perfect addition to Bompastor’s side. Therefore, we could see Baltimore link up well with left-back Niamh Charles if she is deployed on the left wing. The pair will combine well along the left flank to create chances through overlapping runs and through balls.
In her first season as a Blue, Baltimore will be aiming to impress Bompastor and develop further as a player in a new league against world-class opposition.
Mary Fowler
The Australian superstar signed for Manchester City in 2022 and is renowned for her skill and technical qualities.
In the early stages of last season, Fowler struggled for game time owing to fierce competition in her position from the likes of Lionesses Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly. As a result, she started the first six games but was left out of the starting lineup for five months.
Towards the closing stages of the season, manager Gareth Taylor had clearly recognised Fowler’s potential as she was finally given her chance to shine. The Cairns-born star quickly hit the ground running, contributing four goals and four assists in seven games.
The ousting of Chloe Kelly raised a few eyebrows but Fowler seized her opportunity, and proved her immense value through several outstanding performances.
She links up well with Manchester City’s right-back Kerstin Casparij through the completion of overlapping runs which can overload opposition defenders and open up space for neat crosses to be delivered into the penalty area.
The Australian international offers something different from conventional wingers as her dribbling abilities with both feet allow her to successfully take on opposition defenders.Therefore, she registered six shot-creating actions and five progressive passes per 90 minutes last season, which highlights her progressive play.
Fowler is a set piece specialist who utilises her great vision to accurately pick out her teammates before floating perfectly weighted crosses into the penalty area. Her versatility is invaluable for both club and country as she excels across the front line and in the centre of midfield. Fowler is a reliable player who can be trusted to look after the ball and carry out hold-up play which allows her teammates to move higher up the field.
She was a key cog in the Manchester City machine that had a record breaking run of 14 unbeaten games in the WSL last season, including a historic win against Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.
Despite this, City cruelly missed out on the trophy due to goal difference whilst Chelsea retained their title for the fifth year running. This raises the tough question of the crucial difference that Fowler could have made if she was entrusted earlier in the campaign.
Looking ahead to this season, the Australian international will be aiming to establish herself as a regular fixture in City’s starting XI. Fowler’s influence will prove to be vital for City’s success as they prepare to begin their title campaign and look to avenge last season’s disappointment.
Laia Codina
At the age of only 24, Codina is already a Champions League and World Cup winner. The former Barcelona defender signed for Arsenal last year with the aim of seeking regular game time and bringing major silverware to North London.
As a versatile player, Codina possesses an array of skills from dribbling to last-ditch tackles which marks her as one of the most exciting defenders to watch in the WS L.
Codina’s superb vision sets her apart from other defenders of her calibre as her notable passing statistics are comparable to the likes of Leah Williamson and Mapi León. Her ability to detect opposition attacking opportunities allows her to shift into positions where she is perfectly placed to make crucial blocks and interceptions.
She is a creative centre-back who is often seen scouring the pitch and directing teammates, with an 89% pass completion rate last season. The majority of her goal-scoring chances arise from set pieces where she uses her physical presence to tower over opponents, and direct the ball towards the face of goal.
The Spaniard put on a defensive masterclass against Chelsea in the 2024 Continental Cup Final at Molineux. As a half-time substitute for the renowned Leah Williamson, Codina quickly settled into the game, completing a series of crucial blocks to halt opposition attacks and maintain a clean sheet.
The Spaniard has a great partnership with Lotte Wubben Moy which has been showcased when this pairing have been utilised together. Wubben Moy undertakes the role of the more physical centre-back which allows Codina to press forward during attacking opportunities. Furthermore, both defenders have strong aerial capabilities meaning that they can pose a huge threat from set-pieces.
On the international stage, she has 19 caps and two goals which is made more impressive when the overload of talent within the Spanish team is considered. Her proficiency and reliability was acknowledged as she was handed starts in both the World Cup and Nations League finals, where she excelled against tough opposition.
Despite her clear talent, Codina only started five WSL games last season and made eight appearances in total. She will be seeking an increase in game time as her impressive performances have shown that she is more than capable, given the opportunity.
In her second season as a Gunner, the Spanish international will be hoping to break into Jonas Eidevall’s starting eleven as well as playing a greater role in her teams’ title ambitions.
Olivia Smith
The Canadian international has recently signed a long-term contract with Liverpool after a breakthrough season at Sporting Lisbon, scoring 16 goals in 28 games.
Smith’s highly anticipated arrival sets a new transfer fee record for Liverpool Women. This shows the intent that the Reds had to release Smith from her contract at Sporting, beating many top clubs in the race to snatch up the rising star.
The midfielder will be a great addition for Liverpool as her speed and tenacity in front of goal makes her a huge attacking threat. She predominantly stars as a right-winger owing to her dribbling abilities which enable her to cut inside and create space for goal-scoring opportunities.
Smith’s awareness on the pitch is beyond her years as she regularly plays pinpoint through balls to her teammates and delivers neat crosses into the 18-yard box. This means that we could see her link up with the likes of Sophie Roman Haug who is a great attacking header of the ball, winning 99% of her aerial duels last season.
Liverpool exceeded all expectations last season, finishing fourth in the league with many outstanding performances; however there are still some shortcomings that the Reds need to address that could otherwise prevent them from competing for a top-three finish.
Smith could prove to be a vital signing for Liverpool as a lack of goals scored per game was a key weakness of their campaign last season. They ranked as the fourth-lowest goalscorers with only 24 in 22 games. The team often failed to capitalise upon their chances in front of goal leading to costly defeats in games where they dominated possession.
For example, Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at home against relegated Bristol City despite stats of 63% possession and 10 shots.
Therefore, Smith could have a huge impact upon a Liverpool side that can lack a clinical presence in front of goal. She is a playmaker who’s progressive play could prove to be crucial, especially in these tight games. This may prevent Liverpool from dropping vital points that kept them outside of a top-three finish last season.
Smith can help to solidify Liverpool’s attacking presence after the departures of Shanice Van De Sanden and Melissa Lawley. Her arrival will look to catalyse their hunt for silverware as the club is undergoing a period of rapid development with increased investment in their women’s team.
Grace Clinton
Manchester United’s Grace Clinton is a generational talent who has made headlines for her dominant performances for both club and country.
Clinton received her maiden Lionesses call-up in 2023 as her rapid improvement caught the eye of Sarina Wiegman.
The young star has been a valuable asset to teams that she has previously been loaned to, owing to her ability to influence the direction of games. Perhaps most notably, she helped Tottenham Hotspur to reach the FA Cup Final for the first time in their history with her influence being cemented by being voted as supporters’ player of the season.
Her absence in the FA Cup Final against her parent club Manchester United inevitably impacted Spurs’ as they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at Wembley Stadium. This exemplifies Clinton’s importance to the team’s success owing to her incredible dribbling capabilities and ability to drive the ball forward.
Therefore, her presence could have prevented sloppy goals being conceded by a team that looked disjointed and unnerved. Clinton was undoubtedly a crucial component of Spurs’ setup therefore it will be interesting to see how the Lilywhites fare without her.
Clinton is the definition of a true box-to-box midfielder who orchestrates attacking opportunities but also drops back to defend diligently when required. She won 80% of tackles last season, demonstrating her physicality and strength.
Upon her return to Manchester United, it’s likely that we will see her link up with fellow Lioness Ella Toone who frequently features in the number 10 role. Both players are attack-minded with the capacity to shoot from distance, therefore it’s likely that the pair will link up well to create chances in front of goal.
Ahead of the 24/25 WSL season, Clinton will be seeking regular game time at Manchester United with the hope of claiming major silverware whilst also aiming to play a part in defending England’s title at the 2025 Euros.
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