There have been many quiet periods through this transfer window, at time it felt like nothing would happen in a summer where we needed to add depth.
In previous summers we’ve lost stars such as Alessia Russo, Mary Earps and Ona Batlle, all of which, for various reasons, felt ominous. Along with Ona, the biggest loss for me was Lucia Garcia, who went for big money to Mexico but seemed genuinely sad to leave. Could the club have been more proactive on that one? Maybe.
In the cases of Russo and Earps we saw contracts run down in similarly inevitable cases of ‘Will she go or will she go?’ scenarios.
The case of Grace Clinton wasn’t quite so clear cut, at least many fans didn’t think so. A player who the club invested in, finding 2 good loans to help develop her and could have reasonably expected some commitment to the club beyond just her returning year.
When the club triggered the 1 year contract option it seemed the writing was on the wall, though again, many fans refused to believe she would leave.
From the club’s perspective, it needed a fresher approach compared to the Russo and Earps sagas. No drawn out negotiations, no prime playing time while spreading uncertainty throughout the squad.
I thought we would simply lose her. Cash in rather than get nothing for her next year and swallow our pride in potentially letting her go to a rival.
Instead, out of nowhere came the link to Jess Park.
Reports suggest city approached Utd about the unsettled Grace Clinton and instead of conceding defeat, Utd played wise and demanded Jess Park in return.
Here’s my brief view of the ins and outs of the summer
INS
Julia Zigiotti Olme
After silence o the transfer front, Conner Roberts of The Cutback and AFU WFC broke the news of Utd’s links to Swedish midfielder, Zigiotti Olme. She featured for Sweden in the Euros and the transfer followed shortly after their exit. She has already shown her worth in the Champions League qualifiers out in Stockholm, proving to be a solid defensive midfielder who appears to be the perfect foil for Miyazawa. As well instantly strengthening the midfield, she allows Dominique Janssen to drop back into defence, replacing Mille Turner next to Maya Le Tissier.
Fridolina Rolfo
A shock. Barcelona contract terminated by mutual consent on 7th July, announced as a Utd player on 15th August. Barcelona have since claimed a drop off in form led to the termination but their financial struggles are well documented and offloading the wages of a 31 year old is likely to have been in their mind. We’ll never know how far ahead this signing was planned, it appears to have been an opportunistic grab, but what a signing it is. She’s won 4 Spanish league titles, 1 in Germany, several cups and reached the final of the Champions for the last 4 seasons with Barcelona, winning 2 out of 4. She also has 2 Olympic silver medals and 2 bronze World Cup medals. The pedigree he brings to the starting 11 is immense and despite being slightly older than Leah Galton, brings added quality and depth to that left side.
Jess Park
Another opportunistic signing. Grace Clinton wanted to leave, city wanted her, Utd played it wise. While Park is effectively a replacement for Clinton rather than an addition, her versatility improves our squad compared to Grace. While it was difficult to accommodate Clinton and Toone in the same 11, Park plays in the positions Clinton was often shoe horned into. If Toone was older, I would put all our effort on Grace, but Toone is only 25 and bleeds for the badge. I wouldn’t displace Toone with Clinton at 10 or Miyazawa with Clinton at 8. Losing her was inevitable but getting Park in as part of the deal gives us a player who fits our squad right now, covers positions where depth was an issue and already has plenty WSL experience.
Summary
We hoped for mass reinforcements. We were promised the World 7s money to spend on transfers. Ultimately, only Zigiotti Olme seems to have come from a planned strategy. All 3 signings immediately improve our starting 11. The signings we’ve made are top tier, it’s the signings we didn’t make that let the window down.
OUTS
Alyssa Aherne
An academy graduate, with Utd from the age of 13. Won the Academy league and cup in 2022 and the 21st graduate to sign for the women’s team following the reformation in 2018.
Aoife Mannion
A solid servant. Aoife played for Marc Skinner at Birmingham and aside from suffering a 2nd ACL of her career while at Utd, I believe could’ve been a mainstay at the centre of our defence. On return from injury she had some epic performances before being used as cover at right back. She should get decent game time at Newcastle and will be an asset for them. Probably the right time to move on.
Grace Clinton
The big story of the window. She wanted out, we had a dilemma of selling her now or losing her for free next summer. Grace played well for Utd, scoring some important goals, our 2nd highest scorer behind Elisabeth Terland last term, just 2 behind the striker. There was always the debate about whether her and Toone could operate together though. Some would say the team should be built around Grace, I disagree. My midfield for Utd this season would be Zigiotti - Hini - Toone, even if Clinton was still at the club. I feel Grace owed the club another contract after the investment in her, signing her as a youngster, getting her 2 good loans that helped her develop. Had she extended this time, she would have had the chance to earn the bigger contract or still been young enough to take her career elsewhere. She has a high ceiling, but I feel Jess Park will be more effective for us right now, which is the most important thing to consider with European football guaranteed.
Have your say on the transfer window and your view may be included in the next fanzine
LOANS
Keira Barry - Sunderland
A wicked cross in the friendly against Liverpool at LSV, lots of potential, but struggles beyond 10 minutes on returning form injury. Hopefully she can get the minutes to build up fitness and have an impact. With fitness, she could have the ability to challenge on the right wing.
Lucy Newell - Birmingham
Could Newell have provided cover for our defence this season? Probably, but if she’s only here as cover, she isn’t developing. Lucy was our Academy player of the year for 2023/24 and was nominated for the Championship’s (now WSL2) rising star while on loan at Blackburn last season. With Janssen 30 and Mille Turner 29, Newell’s development could be timed just right to step into those boots.
Evie Rabjohn - Sunderland
Without the unfortunate ACL injury in 2024, Rabjohn may well have been pushing for a squad place already. A WSL2 loan will hopefully be perfect to give her a chance at regular minutes.
Jess Simpson - Southampton
Another defender some might say should have been kept as cover. At Utd since the age of 11, another ACL delaying development. Fingers crossed for minutes, fitness and a return to Utd ready to knock on the door of the first team.
Emma Watson - Crystal Palace
Probably the player with the biggest potential. Another who without an ACL injury would probably be a regular in the first team by now. Watson has shown what she is capable of when she has played, but the WSL2 minutes will hopefully help her with fitness and form, ready to come back fighting. Still a teen, she already has 12 senior Scotland caps. Having not featured as much as we’d hoped last season on loan at Everton, dropping a division should give Watson chance to shine.
A fair, balanced view on the Clinton/Park transfers. I liked Grace and I'm gutted to see her go, but I think you are right about that first choice midfield. In fact, I think we have just played the first choice back five and midfield three. Jansen is stronger than Turner and Sandberg is just better than George. The front three is likely to be where we see most rotation and that's not a bad think - having genuinely different options to open up defences is good thing.
3 good signings, shame it wasn't more but really loved seeing Zigiotti play and can't wait to see Rolfo and Park