Eintracht Frankfurt announced news of the deal via a post on their official club website this morning.
The 19-year-old has signed a four-year deal with her new club.
Lia joined the ******* nal academy at the age of 14 and she went on to make her senior debut for the club three years later in a Subway Women's League Cup tie against London City Lionesses. The winger went on to make one further appearance for The Gunners before spending time out on loan at Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Hammarby IF.
On the international stage, Lia's talents have been recognised by England. She has represented the Lionesses at various youth levels up to and including Under-23 level.
After joining Eintracht Frankfurt, Lia said "It feels great. I'm very happy to be here and to take the next steps in my career at Eintracht. It's exactly the right step for me, and I'm really looking forward to this new chapter.

#lionesses #make

Cameroon claimed a first Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) ****** le when they thumped surprise package Malawi 3-0 in the final, as Marie Ngah's first-half double helped seal victory on Sunday.
Cameroon had lost three finals but made it fourth-time lucky against a Malawi side making their debut at the continental championship. Ranked 153 in the world and 32nd on the African continent, Malawi had a fairytale run to the decider.
The two finalists had already sealed their place at the Women's World Cup in Brazil next year, along with fellow semifinalists Morocco and Algeria. The latter finished third after winning the bronze medal fixture on penalties on Saturday.
Under pressure FIFA chief Gianni Infantino was all smiles as he handed the Indomitable Lionesses their medals in the presence of Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe, with several players requesting photographs with the Swiss.
Infantino has long enjoyed the support of many on the African continent as he bids for re-election next March despite revelations of his now-abandoned plans to sell a stake in future World Cups that drew worldwide condemnation.

#continent

Cameroon have won their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations with an emphatic 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi on Sunday evening at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
A brace from Marie Ngah Manga and a goal from Naomi Eto, all scored in the first half, secured the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon's first continental trophy. They previously made the WAFCON final in 2004, 2014 and 2016, but lost all three to Nigeria.
Cameroon will receive $2 million in prize money from the Confederation of African Football, double the prize pot from 2025 WAFCON. Malawi will receive $750,000 as finalists.
Despite expectations of a dual Malawian threat of Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha, the Scorchers were unable to match Cameroon's technical precision in the midfield nor their tenacity in front of goal.
Cameroon's unique and wholly unexpected journey to the WAFCON final began long before their first match. They did not initially qualify for the tournament but were admitted last November as the result of a spontaneous decision by CAF to expand the WAFCON format from 12 teams to 16 for the first time. Mali, Ivory Coast and Egypt were also admitted by way of expansion due to their high FIFA rankings.

#first #cameroon #final

Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi to claim their first ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) **** le.
Marie Ngah Manga's close-range header put the Indomitable Lionesses ahead in the 20th minute and Naomi Eto doubled the lead with a stunning volley on the half hour mark in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
The Central Africans made it 3-0 in the third minute of first-half added time as Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and put the ball on a plate for striker Ngah Manga.
Malawi, the lowest-ranked side at Wafcon 2026 at 153rd in the world, reached the final on the back of the attacking prowess of the Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa.
However, the two Scorchers stars were well marshalled by the Cameroon defence, who ensured that the Southern Africans were unable to secure a fairy tale ending to their unexpected run at the tournament.

#wafcon #first #minute

Malawi is headed to the Women's World Cup for the first time ever, clinching the last of four spots guaranteed to African nations thanks to a 2-1 win over Ghana in the Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinals.
While Malawi and Algeria are set to debut in the competition after WAFCON wins, Nigeria's streak of making every WWC since the tournament began in 1991 is at risk of being snapped.
The Indomitable Lionesses fell 1-0 to Cameroon in their quarterfinal in Casablanca with Maéva Nyadjou scoring a first-half goal and Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina made nine saves to deny Nigeria a place in the WAFCON semifinals.
It is the first time in the competition's history Nigeria won't take one of the semifinal places, but the team is likely more concerned about a perilous situation to reach the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Earlier in the weekend, Algeria beat the Ivory Coast to book its first place in the Women's World Cup and Morocco held off 2023 qualifiers South Africa.

#World #african #nations #time

Martine Medesse of Benin Republic's Amazons clears the ball as Nigeria's Super Falcons qualify for the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 after playing a 1-1 draw (3-1 aggregate) with Benin Republic's Amazons in the second leg of the WAFCON 2026 qualifying match at MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on October 28, 2025. (Photo by Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup wrapped last month, and with it went 39 days of the kind of moments that make a tournament unforgettable: a teenage phenom stealing highlight reels with his flair, a scrappy underdog nation refusing to go home, a 40-year-old goalkeeper turning in the performance of his career, a nine-figure transfer rumor before the confetti had even settled. For four weeks, the entire sports world organized itself around this single competition. But the appetite for those storylines didn't end when the final whistle blew, and it doesn't need a men's tournament to be satisfied. Right now, in stadiums and arenas across the world, women's sports are producing the exact same arcs: breakout stars, Cinderella runs, veteran redemption stories, record-breaking numbers, and transfer fees rewriting what the sport is worth. They're just not getting the same attention. Here are five World Cup moments and the women's sports stories playing out in real time that deserve to be next on your watchlist.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Liked Lamine Yamal's flair? Watch Morocco's Atlas Lionesses at WAFCON.
Yamal spent this World Cup as one of the most-watched players on the planet, a teenager with more than 50 million Instagram followers turning every touch into a moment. Morocco is hosting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for a third straight edition, running through August 16 across Rabat and Casablanca, and the Atlas Lionesses have opened their campaign in commanding form. They beat Kenya 4-0 to open the tournament, then beat Algeria 1-0 to move to two wins from two matches, sitting atop Group A with five goals scored and none conceded. The breakout to watch is Barcelona Femení prospect Kautar Azraf, flagged by CAF as one of the country's brightest young talents ahead of her first senior call-up, the same "unproven teenager announces herself on the biggest stage" arc that made Yamal a global name this summer.
Liked Cape Verde's underdog run? Watch WAFCON's debutant nations.
Cape Verde's men's team was one of the World Cup's most beloved stories, a nation of fewer than 600,000 people holding its own against the sport's giants. Their women's game has its own version unfolding right now. Cape Verde and Malawi are both playing in their first-ever Women's AFCON this year

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United women's team has one month to find a new coach before the Women's Super League season begins after Marc Skinner stepped down by mutual consent on Monday.
Skinner departed the club after five years in the role, despite having another season to go on the contract extension he signed in 2025.
United begins its season against London City Lionesses on Sept. 4.
"Marc leaves having made a significant contribution to the continued progress of Manchester United Women," United said in a statement. "The club places on record its sincere thanks for his professionalism, commitment and dedication throughout his time at United, and wishes him every success in the future."
Under Skinner, who succeeded Casey Stoney in July 2021, United reached four domestic cup finals in four seasons and won the FA Cup in 2024 for its first major honor in women's soccer.

#united #season #four #england

The WSL have announced the full list of fixtures for the 2026/27 campaign.
The opening weekend includes several eye-catching clashes, starting with London City Lionesses taking on Manchester United.
Here are some of the important dates to note for the upcoming campaign…
Other key dates for the season are as follows:
Opening Weekend (BWSL and BWSL2): Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September

#united

WSL Football revealed the 2026/2027 Barclays Women's Super League fixtures this morning via an official press release.
The pick of the opening weekend's games sees big-spending London City Lionesses play host to Manchester United at The Copperjax Community Stadium in Bromley. Both clubs will be chasing European qualification this season and potentially more.
Other notable fixtures see Chelsea play host to Aston Villa while **** nal go to Brighton & Hove Albion. There's also a London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.
The other opening weekend fixtures see Manchester City play host to Barclays WSL2 champions Birmingham City while the two other promoted sides, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace, have home ties against Liverpool and Everton.
All fixture dates and kick-off times across the entire season will be announced in due course.

#fixtures

England's number one Hannah Hampton has signed a new two-year contract with Chelsea.
Hampton joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in 2023, and has gone on to cement herself as both Chelsea and England's first choice goalkeeper.
Over the past three years, she's won five trophies with Chelsea, starred for England as the Lionesses retained their European **** le and was awarded the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or awards in 2025, recognising her as the best goalkeeper in the world.
The 25-year-old was born in Birmingham but moved to Spain at the age of five. It was at Villarreal where she showed her potential, initially as an outfield player, before moving back to the UK just before her 11th birthday.
Hampton switched to become a goalkeeper a year later while at Stoke City before a move to Birmingham City aged 15. She excelled during her time with Birmingham City.

#five

England international Hannah Hampton has signed a new two-year deal with Chelsea.
The goalkeeper's contract was set to expire this summer and it was key that Chelsea kept her as part of an effort to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
After joining from Aston Villa in 2023, Hampton has become one of the world's best goalkeepers and cemented her position as first choice for the Lionesses.
The 25-year-old has won five trophies during her time in west London and was a standout performer as England won Euro 2025.
She won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards last year and joins fellow England internationals Lucy Bronze and Aggie Beever-Jones in signing new Chelsea deals this summer.

#year #hannah

London City Lionesses have continued their summer spree with the signing of French forward Kadidiatou Diani.
The WSL side have had another busy summer with six high-profile arrivals at the club so far with the latest being Diani.
The 31-year-old joins the club on a three-year deal, signing from another Michele Kang-owned side, OL Lyonnes, where she spent the last three seasons.
"I'm really happy to have signed here," Diani said on her arrival ".It is an opportunity for me to discover a new country, a new city, a new team, and I can't wait to start this next chapter.
"I'm excited to meet my new teammates and staff, to work at the training ground and the stadium, and meet the fans.

London City Lionesses have completed the signing of France international Kadidiatou Diani from Lyon.
Diani, 31, has joined on a three-year deal through to 2029.
She becomes the latest high-profile addition London City have made this summer, following the arrivals of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, her Spain team-mate Mapi Lyon, and former England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
"It's an independent club and very ambitious," Diani said in a club press release. "It's something which is quite rare in women's football and something I believe in a lot.
"We don't necessarily need to depend on a men's club to compete at the highest level, win ****** les and have a lot of success. I believe in the project."

London City Lionesses have signed France forward Kadidiatou Diani on a three-year deal for a fee exceeding £500,000.
The 31-year-old announced her departure from European giants Lyon on Monday despite having a year remaining on her contract.
London City had been in advanced discussions for several weeks and, while other European clubs were interested, Diani chose a move to the Women's Super League (WSL).
Diani spent three seasons at Lyon after moving from Paris St-Germain in 2023 and scored 41 goals in 93 appearances.
"It is an opportunity for me to discover a new country, a new city, a new team, and I can't wait to start this next chapter," said Diani.

The last few days have been full of news coming from London City Lionesses, with the latest being the signings of former Barcelona players, Alexia Putellas and Mapi León. However, the transfer window is not closed and they’re going for more.
Just this morning, Spanish journalist Andrea Peláez Marzo broke the news that Kadidiatou Diani’s next team will be the London City Lionesses. After announcing yesterday that she wasn’t renewing with OL Lyionnes, she’s moving to London City Lionesses.
The news came as a surprise since the 31-year-old French striker had a year left in her contract. According to reports, the London club is paying a fee expected to exceed £500,000 for her.
But that’s not it because Sakina Karchaoui has also been linked with Michelle Kang’s English team. The French international defender has been playing with PSG since 2021 and has a contract with the Parisian club until June 2028.

WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Pride this morning.
The 36-year-old Swede joined London City Lionesses in summer 2024 after leaving former club AC Milan. As club captain, Asllani was a driving force behind The Pride’s Barclays WSL2 **** le win in 2024/2025. Asllani continued to feature for London City Lionesses in the top tier last season before sustaining a complex multi-ligament injury, including an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.
Asllani is currently in rehabilitation and may not be fit for some time but London City Lionesses have stood by the player and have agreed fresh terms for the new season.
After signing on again with London City Lionesses, Asllani said “History is constantly being written at this club. To have been part of it from the very start, to have believed when some did not, and to see what we’ve achieved in just two years is the most inspiring part of this journey.
“Helping pave the path, earning promotion to the WSL in our first season and seeing the club continue to grow makes me incredibly proud.

LONDON (AP) — The wave of players leaving Women’s Champions League winner Barcelona continued Monday with Mapi León joining London City Lionesses, where Alexia Putellas will again be a teammate.
London City said the 31-year-old León had signed a three-year contract as a free agent after her contract expired at Barcelona.
León won four Champions League **** les in nine seasons at the heart of Barcelona’s defense, all spent with Putellas as playmaker.
Putellas joined London City last week as a statement signing for the fast-rising club owned by United States businesswoman Michele Kang.
“What can I say about Michele?” León said in a club statement. “She is an inspirational woman who wants women’s football to develop and thrive.”

Spain defender Mapi Leon has joined London City Lionesses on a three-year deal following her exit from Barcelona.
The 31-year-old spent nine years at Barcelona and started their 4-0 win over Lyon in this year's Women's Champions League final - their fourth European **** le.
She won 27 trophies in total, as part of one of Europe's most successful teams, and joins former Barcelona team-mate Alexia Putellas in London.
Leon has more than 50 caps for Spain and helped them win a second Nations League **** le in 2025.
"I'm excited and happy to be here. It's an interesting and attractive project. I have seen what is being built and what is taking shape," said Leon.

Women's Super League champions Manchester City have secured the signing of England defender Niamh Charles on a three-year deal.
She arrives from Chelsea after a six-year spell that saw her lift 12 domestic trophies.
The 27-year-old is manager Andree Jeglertz's second summer acquisition, following fellow England forward Beth Mead. With 34 England caps, Charles was also a key figure in the Lionesses' 2025 Euros triumph, scoring a penalty in their shootout victory against Spain in the Switzerland final.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the move, Charles stated: "I'm really happy to be here and I can't wait to get started. I've seen from the outside and obviously played against City over the past few years, they've had great success this year and I think what they're building as a team, the players and the staff, it's something I wanted to be a part of.
"It suits me and fits me, the culture we're building and the style of play. I just think it's the perfect fit and hopefully we can have some good times together."

Alexia Putellas has not been home since early June. By the time she walks into The New York Times office in Manhattan, more than a month has passed in a blur of airports, hotel rooms and timezones. It's her last stop before returning home.
"I am really tired," the former Barcelona midfielder says as she takes her seat in a corner room overlooking the edge of Times Square.
Plenty has transpired in the 32-year-old's life this summer — including emotions that she still needs to digest.
In May, Putellas won her fourth Champions League ***** le. A few days later, she said goodbye to the club she had spent the last 14 seasons growing. At the time, her next step in soccer was still unknown.
She traveled to Venezuela, where devastating earthquakes struck while she was working events for her Eleven Foundation and the Liga Monumental. She then made her way to the U.S. for, among other things, a chance to watch Spain's men's at World Cup in Los Angeles. The day before we talk, she was at the W Hotel in Union Square alongside multi-club owner Michele Kang for her official unveiling as a London City Lionesses player.

While all the spotlight of the football world is on the men's World Cup in North America, the USA also gave us a huge moment in women's football when Alexia Putellas was unveiled as a London City Lionesses player at a presentation in New York after 14 years at Barcelona.
Indeed, it's hard to under estimate the significance of this transfer considering Putellas' calibre: A two-time women's world player of the year and among the leading contenders for the award again this year, Putellas won four Champions Leagues with Barcelona, ten Spanish league **** les and, last season, every one of the four trophies she competed for.
A world champion with Spain, Putellas is regarded as one of the greatest European footballers in history and spent her entire career in Spanish football, also representing Levante and Espanyol. A standard-bearer for quality football, the forward saw her Barcelona contract come to an end and, after almost a decade and a half, chose to move on to London City Lionesses.
On its official website, the London City Lionesses makes clear its inspiration in Cynisca, the Spartan princess who became the first female Olympic champion in sporting history.
The daughter of the Spartan king Archidamus II and sister of King Agesilaus II, a famous warrior, Cynisca won laurels in 396 and 392 BC. At the time, women were forbidden from competing in the Olympic Games.

London City Lionesses were a second-tier, semi-professional club two years ago. Now they have signed a two-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Alexia Putellas has left Barcelona after 14 years and will be a Women’s Super League player from September.
She is leaving Catalonia for England as the face of the most dominant team in women’s football, having won 10 league ****** les, four Champions League crowns and a World Cup with Spain. Putellas scored 233 goals in 513 appearances for Barca and has won a record 147 caps for Spain.
At 32, she remains among the best midfielders in the game and showed exactly why with two goals in Spain’s 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over England in Mallorca in June, a result that helped Spain secure automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
For the WSL, it is a landmark moment. England are top of UEFA’s ****** ociation coefficient rankings ahead of Spain, Germany and France, but the league has spent years trying to prove it can consistently attract the biggest names in world football while they are still operating at the highest level. Putellas choosing London City is the strongest evidence yet that it can.

West Ham have continued their business ahead of the 2026/27 Barclays Women’s Super League season by confirming the signing of highly-rated midfielder Sienna Wareing.
The England youth international becomes the latest player to arrive in east London this summer. The Hammers continue to invest in young talent as they look to build a squad capable of competing throughout the upcoming campaign. Despite being at the beginning of her career, Wareing arrives with an impressive reputation after progressing through the England pathway. There, she has established herself as one of the country’s brightest midfield prospects.
Wareing’s move represents another statement of intent from West Ham. They have made no secret of their ambition to add players who can contribute immediately and develop into key figures in the years ahead.
The midfielder has impressed throughout her development with her technical ability, composure under pressure and intelligence in possession. Comfortable operating in a deeper midfield role, Wareing is capable of dictating the tempo of a game while also driving her side forward through her passing range and movement on the ball. Alongside her qualities in possession, she is recognised for her work rate off the ball, making her a well-rounded option.
Her performances at youth level have earned her regular involvement with England’s Young Lionesses, where she has gained valuable experience competing against some of Europe’s most talented young players. Those opportunities have allowed her to continue her development in a high-performance environment, preparing her for the next step in her career with a Women’s Super League club.

WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Pride this morning.
The 23-year-old has spent the last three years with London City Lionesses after joining the club from West Ham United. Hillyerd suffered a long-term injury early in her time at London City Lionesses but she has since made a good recovery and has boosted competition in the goalkeeping department. Hillyerd also had a successful loan spell at Watford last season.
The youngster has a bright future ahead of her and she will be hoping to play a part for London City Lionesses in 2026/2027.
After signing on again with The Pride, Hillyerd said “Everyone knows London City is a club going far. It’s changing a lot. I was here in the early stages of London City and the takeover, so I’ve really seen the development.
“I moved here when I was very young and got injured. It was tough. It was a real journey, one I didn’t think would come to an end in terms of my injury. The club have supported me through my injuries, three operations and trusted in my ability. It means a lot.

On Monday morning, legendary striker Sam Kerr’s return to Gotham FC became official. By the afternoon, fans could already order her new jersey, Gotham’s third kit inspired by the Statue of Liberty, with free name printing for 48 hours through Foudys, a new brick-and-mortar store dedicated exclusively to women’s soccer in Manchester, England.
Just a few years ago, this kind of rapid merchandise rollout would have been almost unheard of in women’s soccer.
Helen Hardy experienced that firsthand. As she prepared to travel to France for the 2019 Women’s World Cup to support England, she struggled to find a Lionesses jersey to wear, a frustration that would ultimately inspire the creation of Foudys.
“Everyone around me was wearing men’s football shirts,” Hardy told The Athletic over a video call from her home in Manchester. “You had fans who had traveled from the U.S., the U.K. and Norway to be in France for this huge moment, and ******* ody was wearing women’s jerseys.”
The issue was not demand, but access. Women’s jerseys were difficult to find, often buried deep inside major sports retail websites even as England reached the semifinals and drew a massive television audience.

All eyes are on the World Cup taking place across the Atlantic, but England also has an international beach women's football team which competes in major tournaments.
Part of the side is Erin Bloomfield, who started her football career in Yeovil, and when she's not running a football academy in Dorset, she plays for the sand-based Lionesses.
Travelling once a week to London to the only full-size pitch in the UK, she was encouraged to try beach football by a former Bournemouth team member.
Bloomfield said she had to "learn a lot" to make the switch, and had to do a lot of adjusting to playing on sand.
Penelope Keith 'was like part of the family'

Today, the Houston Dash announced that they have signed Serbian international forward Miljana Ivanović through the 2028 NWSL season – following a transfer from Malmö FF of the Damallsvenskan (Sweden).
“Miljana is a player who brings a blend of technical quality, competitiveness and versatility to our roster. She has competed in demanding environments throughout her career and we believe her mentality and experience will be valuable additions to our group as we navigate this season and look towards the future of the organization,” Dash President of Women’s Soccer, Angela Hucles Mangano said.
In the 2024/25 season, Ivanović, 26, help guide London City Lionesses to promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League. Most recently she scored nine goals in 23 appearances for Malmö FF, joining the club in July 2025.
Internationally, she made her senior debut for Serbia in 2019. Ivanović has made 35 appearances for her country and scored eight goals – including appearances in UEFA Women’s European Championship and FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying.

London City Lionesses have announced the signing of Mary Earps. The former England international has joined the ambitious Women’s Super League side on a two-year deal.
Earps’ return to the WSL follows a two-year spell with French giants Paris Saint-Germain, who she joined after five years at Manchester United.
The 33-year-old is one of the most recognisable faces in the game, having helped United to their first major silverware as they lifted the 2024 FA Cup.
She was also instrumental in helping England win the 2022 European Championships on home soil before playing a crucial role again as they made the 2023 World Cup final.
During that World Cup, Earps was a vocal critic of Nike, who had refused to sell goalkeeper shirts for the women’s teams they supplied.

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has joined London City Lionesses on a two-year deal after leaving Paris St-Germain.
The 33-year-old left France after two seasons upon the expiry of her contract, having made 22 appearances in the Premiere Ligue this season.
She kept 12 clean sheets as PSG finished third in the table, 13 points behind champions Lyon.
"I feel the club aligns with what I stand for. I can't wait to get started and to get down to business," said Earps
"The club's values represent what I want to represent and they are passionate about what I want to achieve. All the conversations have been really positive and every time I spoke with the club I wanted to hear more.

WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Pride this morning.
The 33-year-old has signed a two-year contract with London City Lionesses. She will officially join the club when her contract with PSG expires on 1 July 2026.
Earps is one of the most decorated goalkeepers in world football. She has been capped by England on 53 occasions, helping the Lionesses to win five trophies including the UEFA Women's EURO and the Women's Finalissima. Earps was one of the fans' favourites in her time playing for her country.
At club level, Earps is most known for her five-season spell at Manchester United where she won the Adobe Women's FA Cup. The player has turned out for 10 other clubs including Doncaster Rovers Belles, Birmingham City, Reading, VfL Wolfsburg and latest side PSG.
After agreeing to join London City Lionesses, Earps said "I'm over the moon to join this club and I'm really looking forward to it.