WSL deadline: England duo make moves

Last updated : 01 February 2025 By Three Lions

At the beginning of a big year for England's women as they seek to defend their European crown, two players hoping to be a big part of Sarina Wiegman's plans in Switzerland this summer made deadline moves to London earlier this week.

Chelsea, already dominant at the top of the WSL, paid their second big-money fee of the month to bring Keira Walsh back to the UK, the 27-year-old leaving Barcelona where she had moved in 2022.

Chloe Kelly, meanwhile, hero of that Euros triumph for Wiegman's side, was the subject of loan interest from Manchester United and Arsenal after expressing a wish to leave Manchester City and get more playing time in a bid to stay in the England manager's plans.

It was Arsenal who sealed the deal for the forward, who joins until the end of the season. 

England's build-up to Euro 2025 starts this month with Nations League clashes away to Portugal and a Wembley date with world champions Spain.

That game, on Wednesday 26th at 8pm, pits England against the side who defeated them in the World Cup final and who are also the current holders of the Nations League, in addition to Spanish players having scooped a host of individual awards in 2024 and Barcelona reigning supreme in the Champions League.

Tickets are available both for that and two fixtures for England Women's U23s, against Germany on Thursday 20th at Walsall FC and France on Tuesday 25th at Stevenage FC (both 7.30pm kick-offs with tickets for each game priced at £5 adults, £3 concessions and £1 for under-12's).