Women's Super League

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City boss Andree Jeglertz says he has been impressed by the "calmness and confidence" of Iman Beney since she arrived at the club in the summer.

The 19-year-old joined City from Swiss side Young Boys in June and she has made five Women's Super League appearances for Jeglertz's side this season.

She scored a late winner in City's 3-2 victory over Arsenal and netted the equaliser in their comeback win against Liverpool earlier this month, while she scored again on international duty for Switzerland in Tuesday's 4-3 win against Scotland.

"What an exciting player with so many qualities in her repertoire," Jeglertz said.

"I'm not saying [I'm] surprised, but partly surprised, because it's difficult to come to a new country, to a new city, to a new club, new team. Everything is new.

"She's very, very young. But she's shown calmness and confidence that I'm impressed by. She's just playing her game, and that is one of the most important things for a young player."

The City manager said the club are still trying to find out the best way to "optimise" and "maximise" Beney's talents.

"I am not saying we are struggling, but we're still figuring out how do we get even more out of her," he said

"And I think that's a little bit of a journey that we are still on, both her and I to find out to get even more out of her."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey says she is "proud" of ex-Arsenal team-mate Katie Reid despite her having to withdraw from the England squad with injury.

Godfrey, 20, came through Arsenal's academy like defender Reid and played with her in England's Under-23s squad.

Reid, 19, has been a key player for Arsenal this season and was rewarded for her performances with a call-up to the England senior squad before injury struck.

"I text her when she got the call-up and also when she announced her withdrawal. It's tough but she's more than deserved that call-up," Godfrey told BBC Sport.

"She has been exceptional. I think anyone who has seen her in the games she's played in will say that. I'm just really proud of her.

"I know it's upsetting for her but she is an incredible player and such a good person so I couldn't be happier for her [getting the call-up]."

Godfrey is among the under-23s squad preparing at St George's Park for Monday's game against Portugal, having suffered a 5-0 loss by Germany on Thursday.

She says being around the senior squad - double European champions - has increased excitement among England's young talent.

"There's a real feeling you want to be a part of women's football right now and especially because we're so close to the seniors," she added.

"They are here with us now and it's cool to see them right there. Michelle Agyemang was such a big figure in the summer so it's within touching distance.

"Lucia Kendall has been called up this time and Katie Reid was too. It shows a clear pathway between the under-23s and the senior squad. It's exciting."

Godfrey has been inspired by Agyemang's burst onto the international scene after the 19-year-old dominated headlines in the summer for crucial late goals off the bench.

"I look up to Alessia Russo a lot - the way she carries herself on and off the pitch. Chloe Kelly is also an incredible clutch player," added Godfrey.

"Lauren James' technical ability is incredible and she just has that calmness and strength. Those are things I want to add to my game.

"Doing what Michelle does at her age… she is younger than me but is a role model for me as well. She would hate me saying that!

"All of them are inspiring and wouldn't be where they are if they weren't."

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Tottenham have confirmed midfielder Maite Oroz has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee.

The 27-year-old, who has made one substitute appearance in the Women's Super League this season, suffered the injury during Sunday's 3-0 win over Birmingham in the League Cup.

It is the second time she has ruptured her ACL, having also suffered the injury to her left knee when she played for Athletic Club in 2018.

Spurs said the Spaniard would "undergo surgery in the coming weeks".

"Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes Maite a full and speedy recovery," a statement added. "She will be have our love and support every step of the way."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Lioness Izzy Christiansen has been named assistant coach of the England Women's Under-23s squad.

The 34-year-old was capped 31 times for England and represented Birmingham City, Manchester City, Lyon and Everton during her career.

She retired in 2023 after making over 150 appearances in the Women's Super League and will join head coach Emma Coates and assistant Gemma Davies in her new role.

Christiansen's new position is in addition to her job as head coach of Manchester City Women's Under-21s, as well as various roles within media.

Speaking about Christiansen's appointment, Coates told BBC Sport: "Myself and Gemma [Davies] got into coaching really young but we haven't played at the top, top level.

"Izzy adds that angle. She has played in the games [the under-23s are] playing in and her experience speaks for itself.

"She's someone the players can connect to on a different level. She delivered the training session on Monday and it was brilliant.

"I'm excited for her to get her teeth into it. She's another great person to get involved with our coaching team for sure."

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Newcastle United and manager Becky Langley have parted company with the club in ninth place in WSL 2.

Langley was appointed in 2019 and led them from the fourth tier to the second.

Her final match was Sunday's penalty shootout defeat by Manchester City in the group stages of the League Cup after the match finished 3-3.

Newcastle, who went fully professional in 2023, finished fifth in their first campaign in the second tier last season.

A club statement said: "Everyone at Newcastle United thanks Becky sincerely for her service to the club and wishes her the very best in her future career.

"An interim coaching structure will be put in place while a successor is appointed."

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Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom says a new designated stadium for their women's team remains "vitally important" to the club and the city but he "can't put a time on it".

Brighton hope to build a new purpose-built stadium for the women's team by 2027-28, having had proposals approved by the council in October 2023.

The Seagulls currently host the majority of their WSL matches at Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium, with some games being played at the club's main Amex Stadium.

"We are really committed to bringing the women's team back to Brighton full-time with the stadium," Bloom told BBC Radio Sussex.

"We don't have a stadium outside of the Amex in the Brighton and Hove area to be able to play the games and unfortunately the Amex - the wonderful stadium that it is - can't host all of the games because of conflicts with the Premier League schedule.

"And it is too big of a stadium. We do it sometimes because we want to have games in Brighton but having four, five or six thousand in a 36,000 stadium isn't great for atmosphere."

In January, the club said it had identified a site for the new stadium but Bloom said there had been "delays" in making an announcement because of "things outside of our control".

"A designated stadium for women players, for the fanbase which is a very different demographic to people watching our men's team, I think it's vitally important to this football club and this city," Bloom added.