Yes even from thousands of miles away and time difference of -8 hours I was still following along as the Albion wheeled and dealed on the final day of the transfer window.

The headline was of course the capture of former England Lioness, Nikita Parris, from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee. In an intriguing twist, our top scorer Elisabeth Terland headed up north to the Red Devils on a free transfer earlier this summer, but in return for a modest fee, we have now signed their own top scorer in Parris.

Full club announcement can be read HERE

Another incoming talent, Michelle Agyemang, who we’d talked about on the podcast before as potential loan target, did indeed join for a season from Arsenal. It is understood there is no club option to buy at the end of the loan.

Full club announcement can be read HERE

There were outgoings too. Two of our brightest young talents have moved to Portsmouth – Lily Dent on loan for the season, and Grace McEwan under a dual registration which allows her to play for Pompey as well as our own U19 team. Both I’m sure are part of the long-term plans of the club.

Unfortunately we also had to say goodbye to two first team regulars in Li Mengwen and Lee Geum-min. In the case of Lee she sadly never really caught fire at the Albion despite being with us for four seasons. Eleven goals and four assists over that span really tells its own tale, and last year she was only really utilised off the bench with the occasional spot start. The other Li, well that’s a little more puzzling as it leaves us with just eight defenders, and that’s if you include Charlie Rule as a full-back and not a midfielder. Could that be a nod to a change in formation, one that favours attack over defence? Either way Wensie was a really solid player for us, so only time will tell if it was the right call. Both players had tremendously infectious personalities – in very different ways – so on a human level, they’ll certainly be much missed.

So with the squad set, and numbers imminent – we are ready to go for the start of the WSL season!