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Women's Soccer Arsenal's Katie Mc Cabe, Catarina Macario and Barcelona's Alexia Putellas Getty Images Welcome to the first edition of What We’re Hearing,  The Athletic’s women’s football transfer guide to the 2026 January transfer window. Megan Feringa and Charlotte Harpur will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on in this season’s winter transfer window. This includes the players who could arrive and the ones on their way out across the Women’s Super League (WSL), National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), and across Europe. Advertisement The information found within this article has been gathered according to The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Unless stated, our reporters have spoken to more than one person briefed on each deal before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment. Those responses, when they were given, have been included in this piece. We aim to bring you analysis you can trust about what is happening at some of the women’s game’s leading clubs and the latest information we’re hearing from across the market. Catarina Macario is likely to stay at Chelsea for January, though she has been the subject of interest from NWSL sides. Everton are not allowing France striker Kelly Gago to move unless their £500, 000 ($670, 000) valuation is met, despite the 26-year-old striker submitting a written transfer request. Lia Walti attracted interest from WSL clubs but is likely to remain at Juventus. Everton have extended the contract of Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi. Barcelona could face another summer exodus if ongoing contract conversations are not resolved before the summer. Contracts entering their final six months at the club include Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ona Batlle, and Salma Paralluelo. Clubs in the WSL, NWSL and around Europe are keeping a close eye on the situation. Sweden forward Stina Blackstenius is one of many players entering the final six months of their contract with Arsenal, along with captain Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Caitlin Foord, Katie Mc Cabe, Beth Mead, Laia Codina, Steph Catley, Victoria Pelova and Manuela Zinsberger. Conversations remain ongoing with Blackstenius, 29, who has scored six goals and provided three assists in 18 appearances across all competitions this season. At least one WSL club is considering a move for Blackstenius in the summer, though no formal contact with the player or Arsenal has been made. Advertisement Mc Cabe has attracted interest from several NWSL clubs for the past 18 months. They are aware of the Ireland captain’s Arsenal contract expiring at the end of the season. Having tasted the success of Champions League triumph in the summer, Mc Cabe wants to compete at the top level, and with the NWSL’s new High Impact Player rule coming into effect in July, that landscape is one to watch. The overriding sentiment is that Arsenal want Little to stay. Talks are said to be progressing well, along with defender Williamson, as The Athletic previously reported. As for Little, a succession plan is in place for the 35-year-old, but the highly effective midfielder on the pitch offers invaluable leadership and culture-setting qualities off it. As The Athletic reported last week, Arsenal are leading the race to sign midfielder Georgia Stanway in the summer after the England international confirmed she will leave Bayern Munich when her contract expires at the end of the season. Mariona Caldentey and Kyra Cooney-Cross have had their options triggered, keeping them at the club until 2027. Manchester City made a big statement with the signing of USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a transfer fee of around $875, 000 (£650, 000) plus add-ons. Before the new year, they secured contract extensions for captain Alex Greenwood until 2027, Yui Hasegawa until 2029, Mary Fowler until 2027, and Rebecca Knaak until 2028. A notable name missing is their star striker, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, whose contract expires in six months. Discussions remain ongoing. Shania Hayles at Newcastle United is entering the final six months of her contract. The 26-year-old striker was the club’s top goalscorer last season, scoring 15 goals and narrowly missing out on the Barclays Women’s Championship Golden Boot by just one goal, finishing second. This season, Hayles has not managed the same goalscoring heights, scoring just twice in nine WSL2 appearances. However, a change in management and system has meant much of Newcastle’s team have suffered a start-stop season, with Newcastle sitting fourth in the WSL2 table, level on points with Crystal Palace (19) and eight points behind leaders Charlton Athletic. Losing Hayles on a free transfer in the summer could risk looking like poor business for Newcastle. Advertisement Tottenham Hotspur have made four signings this January but are exploring further options before the February 3 deadline. The club are also focusing on finalising deals for young players out of contract in the summer who fit with head coach Martin Ho’s vision for the squad. While Chelsea have in recent history made statement signings in January, this January is likely to be quiet in terms of incomings. Several Chelsea players are out of contract in the summer and focus will be on resolving those deals, with any big player acquisitions likely to take place in the summer. Players heading into the final months of their contract include club captain Millie Bright, Guro Reiten, Sam Kerr, Lucy Bronze, Macario, goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, and Aggie Beever-Jones. Liverpool, who are winless in the league this season and sit bottom of the WSL, are also set to remain busy in the window, with potentially three more players incoming. Manchester United are assessing the possibility of adding depth in two positions, defence and midfield, but could wait until the summer to make formal moves. They have had a hectic window, announcing right-back Hanna Lundkvist and forward Lea Schuller even before the new year was in. They got their business done early — or were they playing catch-up? Head coach Marc Skinner said after the summer window that he would have liked to have recruited two more players — a right-back and a forward. United also signed the highly talented Swedish striker Ellen Wangerheim from Hammarby today. The arrivals mean there were outgoings, too. As The Athletic reported,  Rachel Williams has signed for Leicester City and Hannah Blundell has been loaned to Everton for the remainder of the season. Geyse has also completed a permanent transfer to Mexican side Club America. Leicester are also set to bring in at least two more players on top of the three already completed. Numerous sources have described Newcastle and Bristol City as “spending big money” in the January window in a bid to be one of potentially three teams to win promotion to the WSL this season. Charlton sit top of the WSL2 on 27 points, followed by Birmingham City and Bristol City (22), Newcastle and Crystal Palace (19), Southampton (18), and Nottingham Forest (16). Palace secured the signing of Hayley Ladd from Everton despite Bristol City’s interest in the Wales midfielder. (Additional reporting: James Horncastle, Laia Cervello Herrero)