Women's Super League

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton midfielder Bex Rayner has signed a new contract with the Women's Super League club.

Rayner, 26, has made 10 appearances for the Seagulls since making her debut in December 2024.

"Bex has had a challenging time since joining the club because of injury but her dedication and resilience throughout that period have been clear," said Brighton's women's and girls' managing director Zoe Johnson.

"She's a technically gifted player on the pitch and her character and professionalism off the pitch are a real asset to the squad.

"She's worked hard following her injury to make sure she can contribute to the second half of the season. We're excited to see what the future holds for her with us, and we're delighted that Bex has committed her future to the club."

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

London City Lionesses have recalled winger Paula Partido from her loan spell at DUX Logrono and sent defender Cerys Brown out on loan.

Partido spent the first half of the season in the Spanish top-flight and made 17 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and providing one assist.

She will now spend the remainder of the season back with London City.

Meanwhile, Brown will spend the remainder of this season on loan with Women's Super League 2 side Nottingham Forest having made just one league appearance for London City this season.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City "need to deal with the situation" of being nine points clear at the top of the table and not let it distract them, says manager Andree Jeglertz.

City are chasing a first WSL title in a decade and can open the gap to 12 points if they beat second-placed Chelsea in Sunday's showdown at the Etihad (14:30 GMT).

Jeglertz's side could end Chelsea's domestic stranglehold with the Blues winning six successive league titles.

The two teams met in the Women's League Cup semi-finals earlier this month with Chelsea coming out on top, while Sonia Bompastor's side also won the opening game of the season at Stamford Bridge.

"We're fortunate to play these kinds of games and to be in this situation that we have created - being top of the league and nine points ahead," said Jeglertz.

"We will do everything we can to win the game. There has to be a revenge feeling that now it is time to get those three points.

"There's a balance because we need to talk about it. We can't just say 'let's see what happens.' We need to deal with the situation.

"But we also need to be present in where we are and be focused every day. When the game is over on Sunday, we will prepare again for Arsenal.

"What we speak about is taking this game and not thinking about the history, the background or what happens next. If you do that too much, it can affect players."

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham have completed their fifth signing of the January transfer window with the arrival of Norwegian midfielder Ylinn Tennebo from Valerenga.

A former Norway Under-23 international, Tennebo, 26, has signed a two-and-half-year contract with the Women's Super League side.

Tennebo won back-to-back Norwegian top-flight titles with Valerenga in 2023 and 2024 as well as the Norwegian Women's Cup in 2021 and 2024.

"It's a really special moment for me and my family as my grandfather, who sadly passed away in 2008, was a big West Ham fan," said Tennebo.

"My dream was to play in England and I can't wait to play in the Women's Super League."

Tennebo began her career at Tornado Maloy and won her first professional contract with Avaldsnes at the age of 19.

In 2021, she joined Valerenga and made more than 100 appearances for the Oslo club across all competitions, including the Champions League.

Second-from-bottom Hammers also signed Tennebo's compatriot Tuva Hansen and English defender Ria Bose this month while former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem and France international Estelle Cascarino have joined on loan.

Image source, Getty

London City Lionesses confirms Sofia Jakobsson is departing after a mutual agreement to terminate her contract.

The Swede made 22 appearances for London City during her time with the club, scoring four goals and seven assists.

She was a huge part of their title-winning season last year, when they won promotion to the Women's Super League, involved in eight goals in the league, including a crucial winner against Newcastle in the final run-in.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham manager Rita Guarino hopes her side can build on the "energy" they created in their victory at Leicester City last weekend.

The 2-1 win was just the second time this season West Ham have picked up a victory as they sit second bottom in the table, a point above Liverpool.

It moved them level with Everton in 10th, and just one point behind the Foxes in ninth.

Guarino was appointed in December with West Ham adding new signings to the squad this month, including former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem, who could be involved in this Sunday's game against Tottenham (11:55 GMT).

"We need to follow the energy that we got from the victory and try to do our best. Every point is important in the league to be safe," said Guarino.

"For all these teams, we are very close. This month, it is not crucial I don't think, but it's important to get points as we play Everton [on 15 February].

"Of course, the result can change the energy in the group but we need to react also when something doesn't go the way we want.

"It's important to find this balance in the mentality - not to be happy when you win and very bad when you lose. It's balancing the emotions."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Natalia Arroyo says Aston Villa will "probably have some updates" before Tuesday's transfer window deadline.

So far, Villa have made two signings with midfielder Oriane Jean-Francois arriving from Chelsea and defender Jenna Nighswonger joining on loan from Arsenal.

Full-back Sarah Mayling left on loan to Leicester City, while winger Katie Robinson joined Bristol City.

"We always need to wait until the last minute to see what can happen. We were quite productive at the beginning and knew what we needed," said Arroyo.

"We will try to make the best decisions, but I'm happy so far with how calm we are in our planning. We are not just thinking of the short-term.

"If we have injuries or whatever, we are not doing things in a desperate mode. We are being smart and have a clear plan of what we're building to be better.

"Let's see what happens but we'll probably have some updates before the end."

Villa travel to Goodison Park on Sunday to face Everton in their next Women's Super League match.

The two teams drew 3-3 in a dramatic encounter in the reverse fixture in November but Arroyo could be boosted by the return of some injured players.

"In the last two weeks we have had players out but we now have good news as Chasity Grant and Gabi Nunes are training with us," she added.

"We will see [in training on Friday] and on Saturday how much they can help us this weekend.

"We are likely to still be without Lucia Kendall, Rachel Daly, Paula Tomas and probably not Missy Bo Kearns too."

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham forward Viviane Asseyi did not realise Sunday's game against Tottenham will bring up 100 for her with the Hammers, but is ready to mark it in fitting style.

The France striker, 32, has been plying her trade in east London for three and a half years since switching from Bayern Munich and says she wants to keep her standards as high as when she first joined.

"I didn't know!" she told BBC London when asked about her 100th game. "I'm so proud of that. To have 100 - and there's not many people - that is crazy. I would give everything to have more and more.

"[The time has gone] really, really quick but to have 100 games means you always have a standard, to be the best version of yourself every day. It's the job and I enjoy it."

In beating Leicester at King Power Stadium last weekend, 11th-placed West Ham trimmed the gap to the Foxes and Everton down to just one point. Asseyi recognised the importance of maintaining momentum against high-flying Spurs.

"I just want the three points - it doesn't matter how," she said. "Of course, it's better if I can score, but I just want us to win.

"This league is the best in the world and every detail counts. We will never give up and never worry."

Image source, Leicester City FC

Forward Hlin Eiriksdottir has completed a loan transfer to ACF Fiorentina and will spend the remainder of the 2025/26 season in Serie A, subject to league and international clearances.

The 25-year-old Iceland international makes the move to Italy having made 20 appearances for Leicester's first team since joining from Kristianstads in January 2025.

Hlin will now link up with the team in Florence ahead of their Italian Cup Quarter-Final against AC Milan on Thursday, 29 January.