However, Atl\u00e9tico are understood to view Ben\u00edtez as a key player and a future national team star and were not prepared to let the 22-year-old go. In 2022 Ben\u00edtez helped Spain win the Under-19 Euros and Under-20 Women\u2019s World Cup and she helped her country win the 2024 Women\u2019s Nations League.<\/p>\n
City then made an even later move for Everton\u2019s Spain international Ornella Vignola, who can play in midfield or on the wing. A bid of about \u00a3400,000 is understood to have been turned down by Everton, largely because they felt they would not have time to source a suitable replacement but also because of Vignola\u2019s importance to Scott Phelan\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
It was also widely reported that City attempted to bring in the Nigeria midfielder Jennifer Echegini from Paris Saint-Germain, but multiple sources have told the Guardian that PSG made clear they were not willing to sell the 25-year-old. PSG had agreed to sell the France defender \u00c9lisa De Almeida to Arsenal for a fee believed to be just over \u00a3500,000, and they were not prepared to lose two key players in one day.<\/p>\n
City completed one deadline-day deal, bringing in England\u2019s Anna Moorhouse on loan from Orlando Pride until the end of January, adding good-quality depth to their goalkeeping ranks after Khiara Keating moved to Liverpool on a free in July.<\/p>\n
Although City were left scrambling unsuccessfully for a midfielder on Thursday, it was a positive summer for the club, not least because they began with their most important deal, retaining the services of the WSL\u2019s Golden Boot winner Khadija Shaw with a lucrative new contract<\/a>. Andr\u00e9e Jeglertz\u2019s side begin their title defence at home to promoted Birmingham on Sunday.<\/p>\n Discussing Miedema\u2019s injuries on Friday, Jeglertz said: \u201cIt\u2019s tough for her and of course for us, but her determination is to get back as quickly as possible. We need to keep assessing from week to week but we are fully aware that she will be out for this fall and then we will see where we are later this fall but we don\u2019t expect her back in the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n West Ham have confirmed the signing of the Japan legend Saki Kumagai from London City Lionesses on a one-year deal, a move revealed by the Guardian on Thursday.<\/p>\n The 35-year-old, who scored the winning penalty for Japan in the 2011 Women\u2019s World Cup final, is West Ham\u2019s 10th summer signing. \u201cThe WSL is a very competitive league and I\u2019m looking forward continuing my journey in England with West Ham United,\u201d said Kumagai.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Arsenal will face both of last season\u2019s Women\u2019s Champions League finalists during this season\u2019s league phase after receiving the trickiest-looking draw of the three English sides involved.<\/p>\n
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