Women's Super League

Image source, West Ham

West Ham United announce goalkeeper Rebekah Doswett has penned her first professional contact.

The 18-year-old shot-stopper, who joined the Professional Game Academy (PGA) in the summer, has returned from her Academy Development Registration deal at Watford and signed a new contract with the Hammers until June 2029.

An England U17 international, Dowsett made ten appearances across all competitions for the Hornets in her second spell at the club, having plied her trade with Leicester City prior to joining the Hammers in July 2025.

Dowsett, who represented England at the 2024 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup and helped the Young Lionesses finish second at the 2024 UEFA Women's U17 Championship, is delighted to put pen to paper on her first professional deal.

"I started playing football with the boys in the playground at school so to be signing my first professional deal at the age of 18, and especially at this Club, is a really proud moment," she said. "To have my family here with me today makes it extra special too."

Head Coach Rita Guarino expressed her happiness in seeing Dowsett extend her stay at West Ham.

"I'm delighted that Rebekah has signed her first professional contract with the Club," she said.

"Rebekah's time out on loan with Watford in the first half of this season has provided her with valuable senior experience which is crucial for her development. She is clearly making great progress and I'm looking forward to seeing her continue to improve moving forwards."

After a four-week break, the Women's Super League returned with plenty of goals and more shows of strength from the top two, Manchester City and Chelsea.

City maintained their six-point lead with a comfortable victory over Everton, notable mainly for Khedija Shaw's running battle with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, who saved six times from the WSL top scorer.

At Kingsmeadow, Chelsea scored the second-fastest goal in WSL history when West Ham's Yu Endo put through her own net after 49 seconds.

It was a nightmare start for new Hammers boss Rita Guarino and it got little better, rampant Chelsea winning 5-0.

Fellow new WSL manager Eder Maestre at London City Lionesses also watched his side draw a blank, albeit in nabbing a point via a 0-0 at Liverpool.

It was also goalless at Emirates Stadium, where the title pretensions of Arsenal and Manchester United took a further knock.

Indeed, their hopes of getting Champions League football next season need consider in-form Tottenham Hotspur who got a helping hand from their ex-player Ashleigh Neville, scoring an own goal on her Leicester City debut.

Finally, two goals in three minutes for Aston Villa in their mid-table match with Brighton proved enough to triumph 2-1 at Villa Park.

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The Women's Super League 2 match between Newcastle United and Birmingham City on Sunday has been postponed because of a frozen pitch.

A pitch inspection on Saturday morning ruled the pitch at Gateshead International Stadium unplayable.

Birmingham are second in WSL2 - five points behind Charlton - and Newcastle fourth.

A new date for the game has not been set.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says she has done "a lot of enquiring" about West Ham United's new head coach Rita Guarino before their fixture on Sunday afternoon (12:00 GMT).

The Blues will be hoping to take all three points against the Hammers, who are currently sat just two points above bottom side Liverpool, in their fifth London derby of the season.

However it is hard to know what to expect from Guarino, who was appointed last month following Rehanne Skinner's sacking, due to this being her first managerial job outside of Italy.

"I've never faced her before so we've had to do a lot of enquiring about what she was doing at her previous club," Bompastor told BBC Sport. "It was important for us to research this in order to prepare for the game in the best way possible.

"But it has been about finding a balance between focusing on them and also focusing on ourselves. We are playing at home and we know our goals, so we want to go into the game making sure we play at our best level.

"We have to respect our opposition because it is a London derby and we know they need some points, so they will be coming here with a lot of motivation.

"We never take anything for granted. We will be really focused on the game and focused on its importance for us."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Liverpool FC

Liverpool have signed Norway forward Anna Josendal from Swedish top-flight side Hammarby IF for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old signed her first senior contract with Avaldsnes IL in July 2017, before completing a move to Rosenborg in August 2021, and eventually joining Hammarby IF on a two-and-a-half year contract in December 2023.

Josendal's most successful season came in 2022-23 for Rosenborg, when she lifted the Norwegian Cup and was named Toppserien player of the year after contributing 17 goal involvements across 24 league games.

She is also a full Norway international, having represented the country at five different youth levels before making her senior debut in June 2022.

"It feels amazing to be here," said Josendal. "This has been my dream since I was a little kid. Liverpool has always been my favourite team and my whole family supports them as well, so it is big for me.

"To play for this shirt is going to be so special, so I can't wait to get started."

Josendal arrives as Gareth Taylor's third signing in January, following the arrivals of Alice Bergstrom and Jennifer Falk.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference, Taylor admitted the challenges of bringing players in at the moment: "It is a difficult sell when you are at the bottom of the Women's Super League, albeit currently.

"But we don't want to be in that place and that's why we need these quality players coming through the door."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It will be an "emotional" return to Tottenham for new Leicester signing Ashleigh Neville, admits manager Rick Passmoor.

Neville joined Leicester from Spurs this month having spent almost a decade with the north London club.

It is an immediate return for Neville with Leicester due to face Tottenham in back-to-back games in the WSL and Women's FA Cup less than a week after her transfer.

"We know this game brings lots of emotions to the fore - two games against your old club straight away after a long-term history there," said Passmoor.

"We're there for her. Behind the scenes, we're there for the players. It's important we touch-in with Ash over these next few weeks."

The 32-year-old was part of the Spurs squad when they first joined WSL 2 in 2017-18 and helped them gain promotion to the top tier in 2019.

The wing-back also started Tottenham's first women's major final when they were runners-up to Manchester United in the 2024 FA Cup.

She made a total of 191 appearances for Tottenham and will be celebrated at full-time by supporters following Sunday's match (12:00 GMT).

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Nina Farooqi

London City Lionesses have appointed former Newcastle manager Becky Langley as assistant coach.

Langley, who spent six years in charge of Newcastle, will support new manager Eder Maestre following his appointment earlier this month.

She oversaw back-to-back promotions at Newcastle, guiding them from the fourth tier to the second tier and began an era of professionalism there.

"I'm delighted to be here and can't wait to get going. I think the project has no ceiling here," said Langley.

"Having an owner who is so ambitious for success at London City and in women's football is really exciting.

"The talent we have in this squad [meant] it was a no brainer for me to join. My role is to support Eder and to push us to be one of the best teams in the WSL."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have signed Manchester United full-back Hannah Blundell on loan until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old, who is a four-time Women's Super League champion and three-time FA Cup winner, arrives as Brian Sorensen's first signing in January.

Blundell has plenty of experience in England's top-flight, having graduated from Chelsea's academy and representing the Blues for eight years before joining Manchester United in July 2021.

"I am really excited. I can't wait to get going. Goodison Park is fantastic. Every time I have played against Everton, you can hear the fans," said Blundell.

"They are always brilliant, I cannot wait to have them on my side and hopefully give them some excitement. Everton have got an amazing history.

"The first conversation I had with Brian [Sorensen] got me really excited to join the club. He is definitely one of the reasons I did. Both of our ambitions aligned."

Everton are currently 10th in the WSL table - five points clear of bottom side Liverpool - and they travel to face league leaders Manchester City on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Natalia Arroyo says Aston Villa are "in a better place" than when she first arrived at the club as she reflects on almost a year in charge.

Villa were in a relegation battle in her first few months but they now sit eighth in the table with three wins and four draws from 11 WSL matches this season.

Spaniard Arroyo used the winter break to "refect on the dreams" she had when she was appointed in January 2025 - and believes they are on course to achieve them.

"We are definitely building this. There is a lot of things we're learning in the process like how to keep stable emotionally and to be consistent," said Arroyo.

"That was hard at the beginning because of the results and the tension of relegation. It's something every manager needs to learn. It was about staying steady.

"I'm still growing, asking for help and reading up on stuff. The club is really investing in the squad and we have bigger plans. We are building for the future.

"Now we need to grow our style. There is still a lot to do but in the big picture, we are in a better place than when I first arrived."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Martin Ho says the club are "optimistic" they can finish the season strongly.

Ho joined the club in July and has had an impressive start to his managerial reign, guiding Spurs to six victories from their opening 11 WSL matches.

His side sit fifth in the table and have been ambitious at the start of the transfer window as they prepare for Sunday's game against Leicester City (12:00 GMT).

"We have to make sure we build on the platforms we've built. Players and staff have come back in good spirits and with good energy," said Ho.

"We're optimistic and hopefully we'll have a strong second part to the season. We'll still be in the [transfer] market I think.

"As a club, and as a coach, you want to make sure your squad is in the best possible shape it can be to go into the big part of the season.

"We'll be in the market and will look at whether we can strengthen any more areas. I'm very selective on what I want and what I think we need."