5 WSL players to watch ahead of new season as Lucy Bronze makes return

The new Women's Super League season gets under way this week after a summer transfer window that featured a number of eye-catching moves.

Here, are five players to look out for in the campaign ahead, all of whom are starting life with new employers.

Vivianne Miedema

Among those to make a switch was the division's all-time leading scorer Miedema, joining Manchester City following the expiration of her contract with Arsenal.

Scorer of 80 WSL goals, the 28-year-old Netherlands international, who last term returned to action after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, adds to an attack already boasting the 2023-24 Golden Boot winner Khadija Shaw (21 goals) as Gareth Taylor's City bid to improve on their runners-up finish in May, when they ended up behind Chelsea on goal difference on the final day of the campaign.

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Lucy Bronze

For the champions it has been a summer of considerable change, including boss Emma Hayes leaving to take charge of the United States and Sonia Bompastor arriving from Lyon as her replacement.

Arguably the most notable incoming in terms of Chelsea's squad is England right-back Bronze, the 32-year-old former City and Lyon player restored to the WSL after two years with Barcelona.

The experience provided by five-time Champions League winner Bronze could be vital in the Blues' hunt for a sixth successive title, for which Sandy Baltimore has also joined, from Paris St Germain, and which is set to see star forward Sam Kerr return from an ACL injury of her own.

Mariona Caldentey

As Miedema exited, another high-profile attacker came in at Arsenal in the form of Caldentey, who like Bronze left Barca at the end of her contract.

The 28-year-old netted 114 goals for the Catalan club during 10 years with them, won the Champions League three times, and was part of the Spain side that triumphed against England in the 2023 World Cup final. She joins an Arsenal outfit who came third last season under Jonas Eidevall.

Olivia Smith

Liverpool have been a rising force in the WSL, finishing fourth last season, and in 20-year-old Smith, they have captured a rising star.

Smith, who became Canada's youngest-ever player in 2019 at the age of 15, links up with Matt Beard's team having had an impressive first season as a professional last term, registering 13 goals and nine assists from 18 league appearances for Sporting Lisbon. It is reported the Reds paid a club record fee of £210,000 for the youngster.

Nikita Parris

Brighton are another club to have undergone significant change since the end of last season, with Dario Vidosic coming in as manager and major player ins and outs.

Parris, Manchester United's top-scorer last term, arrived on deadline day after Brighton's Elisabeth Terland had gone the other way. The 30-year-old England forward followed international team-mate Fran Kirby, who left Chelsea, in signing for the Seagulls. Ex-City and Arsenal player Parris won Euro 2022 alongside Kirby and Bronze, and also has Champions League glory with Lyon on her CV.

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