The WSL transfer window officially opens June 18th, but teams across the UK league are already making deals — and headlines — as clubs look to fill gaps with high-profile free transfer signings.

Veteran Arsenal defender Katie McCabe is headed south. The Ireland captain signed a three-year contract with rival Chelsea after 11 years with the Gunners.

"It's a new chapter in my career," the 30-year-old said Monday. "I'm really excited to get going and show the Chelsea fans how ready I am to perform for the badge."

Chelsea is expected to take an aggressive market approach. Star striker Sam Kerr recently departed the Blues, while the team also lost a bid to sign Manchester City forward Khadija "Bunny" Shaw.

Chelsea finished the 2025/26 WSL season in third place, trailing Man City and Arsenal after winning six consecutive league titles.

"This club has been successful for so many years," added McCabe, who grew up a Blues fan. "For me, it's about bringing that success back."

Manchester City is making a bold play for Arsenal veterans Beth Mead and Katie McCabe as both players enter free agency this summer, The Athletic reported Monday.

Mead and McCabe, both 30, hold contracts that expire at the end of the 2025/26 WSL season. No deals have been finalized, but sources expect City to secure both signings once the WSL transfer window reopens on June 1st.

McCabe has drawn interest from reigning WSL champions Chelsea as well. The versatile defender celebrated her 300th Arsenal appearance Sunday before the Gunners' 2-1 Champions League victory over Lyonnes.

Beth Mead has delivered more than 250 appearances and 78 goals for Arsenal since joining from Sunderland in 2017. Despite questions about her playing time following Arsenal's record £1 million signing of Olivia Smith last summer, Mead has remained crucial this season, registering two goals and five assists in the WSL plus three goals and three assists in Champions League play.

The moves would reunite both players with former Arsenal teammate Vivianne Miedema, who now plays for Manchester City. Mead's partner, Miedema, was unavailable for City's weekend match, as Mead also missed Arsenal's UWCL clash due to personal reasons.

Manchester City leads the WSL table by six points with two matches remaining and has all but secured Champions League qualification for next season. The club seeks depth ahead of European competition, particularly at fullback where options remain thin beyond Alex Greenwood and Kerstin Casparij.

Arsenal sits fourth in the WSL with three games in hand and trails Manchester City by 11 points. The Gunners have entered advanced talks with Barcelona defender Ona Batlle, viewed as McCabe's likely replacement.

Arsenal sent Chelsea packing on Wednesday, withstanding a stoppage-time goal to knock its London rival out of the Champions League by a 3-2 aggregate score.

The defending champions now advance to the semifinals, despite losing 1-0 on the night at Stamford Bridge.

The Gunners entered the match with a commanding 3-1 lead from the first leg. They produced a mature defensive display to stifle Chelsea's comeback attempts throughout the match. Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar made several crucial saves late in the game to preserve the advantage.

Chelsea midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken finally broke through in the fourth minute of stoppage time. However, the Blues needed two goals to level the tie and could not find a second before the final whistle.

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McCabe Hair-Pull Sets Off Chelsea Leadership

However, tempers flared in the closing moments after Arsenal's Katie McCabe pulled Chelsea forward Alyssa Thompson's hair with no foul called.

"For me it is clearly a red card for the Arsenal player — she's pulling Alyssa's hair," Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said after the match. "If the VAR again is not able to check that situation, I don't know why we have the VAR."

Bompastor received an accumulated red card herself for her protests. She stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle.

"Everyone needs to understand, that's the difference between being qualified and not being qualified," she added. "It has a big impact on players."

McCabe, for her part, addressed the incident on her Instagram. "I just want to clarify that I was genuinely reaching for the shirt," she posted to her Stories. "I wouldn't ever want to pull someone's hair. Full respect to Thompson."

The victory caps a brilliant stretch for Arsenal. The Gunners have won 10 of their past 11 matches and remain unbeaten since January.

Champions League Closes Out 2025/26 Quarterfinals

Chelsea wasn't the only WSL team exiting the Champions League this week, as Bayern Munich ended Manchester United's debut run by a 5-3 aggregate score.

"Even as a club, we're still learning," said United manager Marc Skinner. "It takes, sometimes, a punch in the face to wake up."

Arsenal will next face the winner of this afternoon's OL Lyonnes vs. Wolfsburg tie, with the German side holding a 1-0 advantage heading into Thursday's second leg.

Just Women’s Sports is here with your daily World Cup Digest, breaking down all of the biggest storylines from each day of action in Australia and New Zealand.

Today’s top World Cup news: Rose Lavelle available to start for USWNT

Rose Lavelle is cleared to start for the U.S. women’s national team against the Netherlands, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski said Wednesday. The 28-year-old midfielder is recovering from a knee injury, and she played her first minutes since April in the World Cup opener against Vietnam.

“Rose is fine, and I’m happy she’s available for selection,” Andonovski said.

Whether Lavelle will get the starting nod remains to be seen, but she said Wednesday morning that she feels “pretty good” and “ready for the second match.” She played just 27 minutes against Vietnam, but she generated 0.24 expected assists, the fourth-highest of any USWNT player.

“Every time we play them, it’s a very physical and intense match,” she said of the Netherlands. “They have a lot of different threats, they’re technical, good on set pieces, so I think it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re really excited for it.”

Lavelle brings a history of success against the Netherlands, having scored in the 2019 World Cup final. But she warned Wednesday that this matchup will look “completely different.”

“Both teams are completely different — new players, new coaches — so I think that it’s a fun memory, but we have a new mindset going into this game,” she said. “We know every time we play the Netherlands, it’s going to be a great game. They have a lot of experience on the field.

“I think it’s going to be fun.”

More top World Cup news: Canada battles back against Ireland

Ireland’s Katie McCabe scored her team’s first-ever World Cup goal in thrilling fashion, putting an Olimpico into the net in the fourth minute.

Yet after the rare goal conceded by goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, Canada pushed back to take a key 2-1 victory in Group B.

Canada’s first goal came late in the first half, when Julia Grosso – through wet and rainy conditions – put a shot on net that resulted in an own goal from Ireland. Adriana Leon added another goal in the 53rd minute that proved to be the game-winner.

Today’s top highlight: Spain’s Alba Redondo shares moment with her family

After scoring two goals in Spain’s 5-0 win over Zambia, Alba Redondo paused to soak in the moment with her family. It’s giving us all the feels.

Today’s results:

  • Japan 2, Costa Rica 0
  • Spain 5, Zambia 0
  • Canada 2, Ireland 1
  • USWNT vs. Netherlands — 9 p.m. ET

More World Cup news to know:

  • Spain and Japan are advancing to the knockout stage. Both won their second Group C matches in commanding fashion and will feature in the Round of 16 regardless of what happens when they face off in their third and final group-stage match.
  • Caroline Graham Hansen issued an apology to Norway coach Hege Riise for her comments after being dropped to the bench for Tuesday’s scoreless draw against Switzerland. Even in the apology, Graham Hansen still said she “strongly disagreed” with Riise’s decision to leave her out of the starting lineup. “I just want to apologize for my statements after the match. I’m just a human being with a lot of feelings,” she told reporters Tuesday. “Emotions got the better of me.”
  • Mary Fowler and Aivi Luik have joined Sam Kerr on Australia’s injured list for Thursday’s game against Nigeria. Both players sustained mild concussions in separate incidents during training Tuesday, according to Football Australia. Both have recovered but are following return to play protocols. Football Australia’s concussion guidelines from Jan. 2018 state that return to play protocols “provides for a minimum of six days before the player can play a competitive game.”

Katie McCabe led the charge for Arsenal’s offense on Sunday, helping the Gunners to a commanding 3-0 win over Everton.

The Irish captain scored a screamer of a goal in the game’s 32nd minute, volleying the ball from the top of the box to put the Arsenal up 1-0.

Nine minutes later, the Gunners doubled their lead, with Lotte Wubben-Moy getting on the end of an Arsenal corner.

Arsenal’s scoring campaign ended with a banger from Frida Maanum, who rifled the ball into the top corner for a 3-0 lead in the 87th minute.

Sunday’s shutout preserves Arsenal’s perfect Women’s Super League season, keeping the Gunners at the top of the table.

It was a fantastic day for the Arsenal women and Tobin Heath’s debut as they trounced Manchester City 5-0 to go on top of the Women’s Super League.

Arsenal captured the first two goals during a ruthless first-half performance. Man City had plenty of opportunities but was unable to defend against Vivianne Miedema’s opening goal, followed by a finish from Kim Little.

Arsenal grabbed another one when Kate McCabe made a brilliant run infield from the left and rammed home a deflected shot in the 60th minute.

A Man City foul on Little gave Arsenal another chance at the 78th mark. Little lifted the penalty into the top corner of the net, giving Arsenal a 4-0 lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, Tobin Heath made her Arsenal debut, after leaving Manchester United at the end of the 2020 season.

In the last act of the game, Leah Williamson wrapped things up with a header from Caitlin Foord’s corner. Arsenal completed their win with four different players on the scoresheet.

Next up, Arsenal will play Tottenham in the quarter-final on Wednesday, Sept. 29.