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Women’s Super League 2026-27: London City Lionesses and New Signings

The Women’s Super League is back – and it wastes no time.

London City Lionesses open the 2026-27 campaign under the Friday night lights, hosting Manchester United at 19:00 BST, and the sense is clear: this is not the same league that signed off in May.

A new heavyweight in London

All summer, London City have stolen the headlines. One name did most of the work.

Alexia Putellas. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner. A free transfer.

After 14 years at Barcelona, 38 trophies and 10 league titles, the midfielder has traded Catalonia for Bromley, instantly transforming the Lionesses from plucky upstarts into a genuine attraction. She is not coming alone, either.

Former Barcelona team-mate Mapi Leon has joined her, adding elite pedigree to the back line, while London City also landed former England number one Mary Earps from Paris St-Germain. Those three signings alone change the temperature around the club. This is a project with teeth.

Arsenal shuffle, City reload

Across the capital, Arsenal have quietly reshaped their midfield. Georgia Stanway, a double Euros winner with England, arrives from Bayern Munich to bring bite and drive in the centre of the pitch.

The Gunners, though, have lost a talisman. Beth Mead has left on a free and headed north to champions Manchester City, a move that not only weakens Arsenal but hands City another proven match-winner as they look to stay on top.

City enter the season as defending champions for the first time in a decade. The target is simple: turn last year’s breakthrough into an era, not a one-off.

Liverpool have made a statement of their own, snapping up Women’s Eredivisie player of the season Mao Itamura from Feyenoord, a signing that hints at a more ambitious push up the table.

A bigger, busier WSL

The league itself has changed shape. The WSL grows from 12 to 14 teams this season, a significant expansion that stretches the competition and opens the door to new stories.

Birmingham City, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic climb up from WSL 2, while Leicester City drop down in the opposite direction. Three fresh challengers, one fallen side, and a calendar that suddenly feels much more crowded.

The full 2026-27 WSL line-up:

  • Arsenal
  • Aston Villa
  • Birmingham City
  • Brighton & Hove Albion
  • Charlton Athletic
  • Chelsea
  • Crystal Palace
  • Everton
  • Liverpool
  • London City Lionesses
  • Manchester City
  • Manchester United
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • West Ham United

With 14 clubs, each side will now play 26 league matches. The fixture list swells to 182 games across the season, testing depth, resilience and squad planning like never before.

The road ahead

The WSL season runs from Friday, 4 September, through to Saturday, 22 May 2027. A winter break splits the campaign, with a pause from 21 December to 10 January, offering a brief chance to reset before the run-in bites.

The Women’s FA Cup final is locked in for Saturday, 15 May 2027, a date every contender will already be circling.

So it starts with London City against Manchester United and the debut of a Barcelona legend in Bromley. Manchester City hold the crown, the pack has re-armed, and the league itself has grown.

Who handles the weight of a bigger stage best?

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