The WSL kicked off last weekend, so we picked our top young ballers to watch this season

Choosing just seven up and coming ballers in a season which is inundated with young talent was tough, but we had to start somewhere…

In no particular order, we wanted to profile the under 25’s continuing to create magic and reassure us that the future of the game is in very safe hands.

Michelle Agyemang (Brighton (Arsenal loanee) & Eng U19’s)

Age: 18

Position: Forward

Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign Agyemang joined Women’s Championship side Watford FC on a dual-signing in September 2023. This experience proved the making of her, bagging six goals for the club – with one coming against her parent club in an FA Club tie. That’s one way to show Mum & Dad.

She’s won two Championship Player of the Week and one Championship Player of the Month awards during her short time at the club. These performances earned Agyemang her first professional contract with the Gunners and they’ve just sent her on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion to gain WSL minutes.

And she found a couple…being subbed on in the 88th minute against Everton in the weekend. We have no doubt she’ll be making earlier starts shortly.

Agyemang would have had tough competition at Arsenal with so many attacking options available: Mariona Caldentey, Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenious, Beth Mead, Rosa Kafaji and Caitlin Foord to name a few, but manager Jonas Eidevall will be keeping a watchful eye on her from afar.

Having bossed the Championship, this Young Gun(ner) has a huge opportunity ahead to build, develop and maybe twinkle the eye of England boss Sarina Wiegman as we head towards the Euros next year…

Grace Clinton (Manchester United & Eng Seniors)

Age: 21

Position: Midfield

Last season, Clinton went on loan to WSL’s team-on-the-rise, Tottenham Hotspur, making 20 appearances, scoring four goals and bagging four assists for the North London side. She was a key figure in the club reaching their first FA Cup final at Wembley, despite not being able to play in the final (due to being conflicted)

On the international stage, Clinton made her England debut in February against Austria (and scored of course) and to top off a stellar season, this young baller just picked up the PFA’s Young Player of the Year Award.

Ahead of this season, despite Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn singing her praises (and wanting to keep her), Clinton returned to parent club Manchester United whom she is expected to play a key role for this season. Vilahamn gave Clinton more freedom to express herself on the wing but as her experience has grown, so has her presence in the No.10 or No.8 role. She admitted that she is “quite an aggressive player” and the middle of the pitch is where she can “do most harm”. Bring on the damage.

With a current transfer market value of £101k (credit: SoccerDonna) and already on the score sheet for United last weekend, she is certainly a talent on the rise, and one to keep an eye on this year.

Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa & Eng U23’s)

Age: 23

Position: Midfield

Having been with Liverpool since she was eight, this young scouser was the embodiment of a ‘Reds’ fan – so it was a surprise to see her move to Villa this summer.

But despite Missy Bo’s history with Liverpool saturated with achievements – the youngest player to ever captain the side in 2021-22, Standard Chartered Women’s Player of the Season 2021, Women’s Football Awards Young Player of the Year 2023, Club Player of the Season 2023, Northwest Football Women’s Rising Star Award 2023 AND the 2024 PFA Community Champions Award – the decision was made to move on.

After receiving her first call-up to the Lionesses in May, hoping to earn an England senior debut asap and a place at the 2025 Women’s Euros on the line, Missy Bo is looking for more game time and a chance to impress Sarina this year.

Making her first WSL start with Villa last weekend, she impressed against Chelsea, causing them problems and nearly securing an early opener against the current WSL title holders. Her link-up play with Chastity Grant is going to be an asset for The Villains.

Missy Bo has credentials both on and off the pitch and Villa have snapped up a baller with big ambitions, an eye on Switzerland and a genuine love for the game and its community. Whatever the transfer fee – it’s a bargain.

Aoba Fujino (Manchester City & Japan Seniors)

Age: 20

Position: Forward

What a summer signing for City! Fujino joins from Tokyo-side Verdy Beleza after racking up 24 goals and 17 assists during her 51 appearances for the club. That’s one way to catch manager Gareth Taylor’s eye as he looks to bolster his front line. Was having Miedema, Kelly, Hemp and Shaw not enough?

You might recognise Fujino’s name from the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Yep, she made history by becoming Japan’s youngest ever goalscorer (aged 19 and 180 days), scoring in their group game against Costa Rica.

And her presence on the international stage reigns supreme – Fujino was the talk of Paris this summer after her incredible free-kick against Spain in Japan’s opening Olympics game.

Her three-year deal with City will no doubt start with an adjustment to WSL life, but that won’t take long – she eats up high-pressure situations and has already given us a very big glimmer of things to come. She started for City this weekend and caused trouble for 74 minutes before Chloe Kelly joined the action.

Olivia Smith (Liverpool & Canada Seniors)

Age: 20

Position: Midfield

Last year Smith played for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino, recording an impressive 13 goals and nine assists in just 18 games. It’s no wonder that Smith attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.

Liverpool eventually sealed the deal for a club record fee of almost €250,000 (£210k). After finishing 4th last season, Liverpool will be aiming to secure Champions League football this season and with a few big names leaving (Melissa Lawley, Shanice van de Sanden, Emma Koivisto and Miri Taylor), Smith is expected to bring the fire power.

On the international stage, Smith is no wallflower, having made her Canada Women’s National Team debut at just 15 (in 2019). She was unfortunate not to be selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics squad but she’ll be working towards building a few excellent WSL seasons to secure her spot for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Smith started for Liverpool at the weekend and looked impressive…

Naomi Layzell (Manchester City & Eng U23’s)

Age: 20

Position: Centre-back

Layzell signed with City this summer from just-relegated side Bristol City who joined the Women’s Championship this season. Despite the club’s downfall, Layzell is on an upward trajectory, securing Young Player of the Season last year.

The transfer fee was undisclosed but the Robins swept it up, confirming that they received a club record sum for this young fledgling fleeing the nest.

The Citizens have secured Layzell on a four-year contract. City’s firepower is world-class but Layzell comes in to lay bricks for that City back-line. The club conceded the fewest WSL goals last season (15) than any other team and they will want to keep it that way.

It’s a big job for Layzell but she brings with her a wealth of experience with Bristol City – a team which came under wave after wave of attack last season. There’s a reason she’s been signed for four years and she’ll be hoping to get City that all-elusive recent WSL title (last won in 2016) and ensure a decent run in the Champions League.

Despite not getting any minutes at the weekend, we’re excited to see her first WSL minutes with the club.

Ruby Mace (Leicester City & Eng U23’s)

Age: 20

Position: Midfield

Mace has already played for a number of English giants, having previously balled with Manchester City, Birmingham City and Arsenal. 

This summer, Leicester City made her loan spell from Manchester City permanent, signing a two-year contract with the Foxes. She made 11 appearances for the club last season and was quick to be offered a return by new manager Amandine Miquel.

Speaking ahead of this season, Mace confirmed that ‘minutes were important at this stage of her career’ and that Leicester had that family-feel she needed to really elevate her career at a pivotal moment.

Mace started for Leicester at the weekend, helping secure a very vital point for the club’s campaign this season.

It’s been a BIG summer of global football – Euro’s qualification, some incredible WSL x Aus x NWSL collabs and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now we’re moments away from the first stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League first stages and the start of the WSL on 20th September…

It’s set to be the most well-attended WSL campaign in history with big ambitions to beat the 717,721 people who turned up for clubs last season.

So, whilst we have a brief moment, let’s get organised and figure out where we need to be and when to catch a bit of the main stadium action…

Arsenal: The Emirates

Credit: Getty Images/Clive Rose

It’s always a vibe at the Emirates and it’s pretty much always a sell-out. Last season, Arsenal secured back-to-back sellouts and made history by encouraging 60,160 fans to their 1-0 win against Manchester United (Feb 2024). The Gunners average league attendance was an 31,428.

If that wasn’t incredible enough, Arsenal now hold the top three highest attended WSL games in history: 59,042 (Arsenal v Chelsea in Dec 2023) and 54,115 (Arsenal v Liverpool in October 2023).

This season, they’ve promised us 11 games at the Emirates; eight WSL and three more depending on UEFA Women’s Champions League progression. Meadow Park (4,500 capacity) will only host three home games against Crystal Palace, Leicester City and West Ham.

Aston Villa: Villa Park

In a historic move for the women’s side, Villa announced this summer that Villa Park will now host all of their WSL home games; a significant increase compared to the five played there during the last campaign.

The remaining home fixtures, including the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup ties, will be played at Walsall’s Poundland Bescot Stadium.

Brighton: American Express Stadium

Credit: Brighton & Hove Albion

No main stadium fixtures announced yet. All the women’s games will take place at the Broadfield Stadium.

Chelsea: Stamford Bridge

Credit: Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea will play three home games at Stamford Bridge. The rest of their fixtures will be hosted at the much-loved Kingsmeadow. Despite having a capacity of only 4,850, it’s the perfect place to still get that up close and personal feel, sitting meters away from Lauren James and new manager Sonia Bompastor.

Last season, the UWCL semi-final second-leg against Barcelona was played in front of a sellout crowd (39,398) at the Bridge. The Blues will be looking to beat that this year and we expect more UWCL fixtures to be announced depending on how the club get on in Europe.

Crystal Palace: Selhurst Park

Credit: Crystal Palace FC

The Eagles have landed in the WSL for the first time in the club’s history and they have quite the list of top tier fixtures to show case at Selhurst Park.

Last season, they made club history by selling over 5,566 tickets to watch them lift the Women’s Championship trophy. This year, with fixtures like this, we have no doubt another record will be smashed.

Everton: Goodison Park

Credit: Liverpool FC

Only one fixture has been announced at Goodison Park and what a fixture it is – just the Mersyside Derby – one of the most fiercely competitive red and blue fixtures in the WSL.

Leicester: King Power Stadium

Credit: Leicester City FC

These guys are main stadium OG’s. The women’s side have used the King Power Stadium as their home ground since 2021. This season is no different – all 11 WSL home games will feature here. We love to see it.

Liverpool: Anfield

Credit: This is Anfield

Three fixtures will be played at Anfield this season. But fans will have double the fun this year as the club confirmed they’d signed a ten-year lease to relocate from Prenton Park to the 18,000-capacity Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens.

Manchester City

Credit: Manchester City FC

City will host three WSL games at the Etihad Stadium. Their remaining fixtures will be played at the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium across the road which sits within City’s elite training ground facility.

Manchester United

Credit: Manchester United FC

Yaaanited have three fixtures in the diary for Old Trafford with the remaining games being played at Leigh Sports Village. There have been rumours recently of the women’s side moving permanently to a re-developed OT in the future, with their men’s team re-homing to a new nearby stadium but we’ll wait to see if there’s any legs in this…

In the meantime, United have sensibly chosen two mid/low-table fixtures against the Hammers and Palace, where they’ll be expecting to secure wins but they couldn’t miss the Manchester derby now and with City burned by a near-miss with the title, that last fixture will be spicy as hell.

Spurs: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Credit: Getty Images/Paul Harding

It’s an important season for the club. A million miles away from once being seen as the WSL newbies (entering the league in 2020), they’re strong mid-table warriors with an eye on top four and a love for disruption.

They finished last year strong with a history-making FA Cup run which took them to Wembley in May (defeated 4-0 by Manchester United).

They’re not messing around with the main stadium fixtures this year – just the three biggest and the best opposition to showcase how far they’ve come, with all their remaining games to played at Brisbane Road (capacity of 9,721).

West Ham: London Stadium

Credit: West Ham United

No main stadium fixtures have been announced yet. All the women’s games will take place at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.