Transfer window verdict: how every WSL club fared in January | Tom Garry | OneFootball

Arsenal

The deadline-day arrivals of Chloe Kelly on loan and of the United States defender Jenna Nighswonger, understood to be for a fee of about $100,000, (£80,550) which could represent a real bargain, have gone a fair way towards salvaging this window for Arsenal. Overall, though, it will be remembered more for the players Arsenal did not sign than they players they did. The club were linked with Naomi Girma and Keira Walsh, and fans will rightly wonder why two of the world’s best players in their positions joined their fierce rivals Chelsea. Window rating: 5/10

Aston Villa

The priority was to appoint a head coach and the club will hope Natalia Arroyo proves to be the perfect fit. Player-wise, it was a fairly unexciting window, albeit the loan acquisition of the goalkeeper Katelin Talbert looks astute with Anna Leat now a free agent and Sophia Poor leaving on loan. The main negative is the sale to San Diego Wave of Kenza Dali, one of the squad’s most creative sparks and most experienced internationals. Window rating: 2/10

Brighton

This window was always unlikely to match the star-studded excitement of the summer, when Brighton did most of their big business, and the team’s January form has been disappointing. Nonetheless, the signing of the Republic of Ireland defender Caitlin Hayes, who has impressed at Celtic over the past four years, is a valid reason for positivity. They also pulled off some good late business to sign the midfielder Nadine Noordam from Ajax. Window rating: 6/10

Chelsea

After the club broke the world record to sign Girma for $1.1m, then secured a dramatic, late €550,000 (£440,000) move for Walsh, which is expected to be confirmed on Friday, there is no question as to who “won” this transfer window. Sonia Bompastor’s team, seven points clear at the top of the WSL, have signed arguably the world’s best centre-back and holding midfielder. If there is such a thing as a window going “too well”, this could be it, as debate turns towards whether the league can stay competitive. Window rating: 10/10

Crystal Palace

Palace quietly enjoyed an excellent-looking deadline day double, bolstering their defence with the loan signing of the Netherlands international Aniek Nouwen from Chelsea and the addition of Jamaica’s Allyson Swaby for an undisclosed fee from Milan. Both will add quality. The arrivals of the Finland midfielder Ria Öling and Canada forward Clarissa Larisey also look set to enhance the team and help give the bottom side a fighting chance of staying up. Window rating: 8/10

Everton

This was a crucial window for Everton after The Friedkin Group’s takeover, with an injury-hit squad looking thin and badly depleted before Christmas. They acted swiftly and got their business done early, and the signing of France’s Kelly Gago in particular adds exciting quality in attack. Bringing in Wales’ Hayley Ladd from Manchester United, where she was lacking first-team opportunities, was also a smart move and Everton have been busy the loan market too. Emma Watson, signed on loan from United, has already had a big impact, shining in Wednesday’s FA Cup win over Tottenham. In a significant setback, though, the club said on Friday that the captain, Megan Finnigan, sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in that game. Window rating: 7/10

Leicester

With the club one place and four points above the relegation zone, it is a worrying time for Leicester fans and this window will have done little to reassure them. Losing the goalkeeper Lize Kop felt inevitable but a bit of a blow nonetheless, cushioned somewhat by the signing of Wales’ Olivia Clark. On deadline day the lack of goals was potentially addressed with the signing of the Iceland forward Hlín Eiríksdóttir, who has a strong scoring record in the Swedish Damallsvenskan. Window rating: 4/10

Liverpool

The loan arrivals of Scotland’s Sam Kerr and the Spain youth international Júlia Bartel appear to be clever midfield additions, and the Guardian understands the club are set to announce the capture of the Spain left-back Alejandra Bernabé on loan from Chelsea, which is another good fit. The other positive news for Liverpool is that no players left, and it is understood the club strongly resisted approaches. Nevertheless, with the team 22 points off the pace set by Chelsea, fans may fear other clubs’ strengthening will leave Liverpool further behind. Window rating: 5/10

Manchester City

Defenders were needed, given the captain Alex Greenwood’s injury and Alanna Kennedy’s departure, and the arrivals of Rebecca Knaak and Laura Wienroither should meet that requirement more than adequately. Better still, the club won the battle to sign the talented Brazil forward Kerolin. Despite those positives, the saga of Kelly’s departure, which was eventually played out in public, did not appear to be handled well. A late loan move to Arsenal was arranged, which is great for Kelly but leaves City fans wondering why they have strengthened a rival for Champions League qualification. Window rating: 6/10

Manchester United

On the pitch it has been a strong month, United climbing to second, but it was not a great window. Their bid to sign Kelly from City was rejected and it will have been a blow to see her join another rival, Arsenal. United were also previously linked with Kerolin so it will be painful for supporters to see her at City. That said, performances suggest there is very little they needed and perhaps not disrupting their rhythm will be a good thing. Window rating: 3/10

Tottenham

There is plenty for Spurs fans to be optimistic about regarding this window, not least after seeing the new signing Olivia Holdt score a 95th-minute free-kick to give them victory at Crystal Palace on her debut. The Netherlands goalkeeper Kop was a target for a lot of clubs and the addition of the Sweden defender Josefine Rybrink on a free transfer is a real bargain. Tottenham are not quite shopping in the same supermarket as some of their London neighbours but, window by window, there are steadily improving the squad. Window rating: 6/10

West Ham

Adding the Austria defender Verena Hanshaw from Roma and the Finland defender Eva Nyström from Hammarby was positive for West Ham in an area where they needed to strengthen, albeit Shannon Cooke was allowed to leave on loan for Birmingham. There is enough international experience in Rehanne Skinner’s squad to keep them up, but you could forgive fans for feeling somewhat uninspired by their business in the past two windows, relative to the big names they brought in last January. Window rating: 4/10

Header image: [Composite: Guardian Picture Desk; Chelsea FC/Getty Images; Arsenal FC/Getty Images; Tottenham Hotspur FC/Shutterstock; Manchester City FC]