Manchester United made three significant signings on WSL deadline day to boost their title hopes, with Marc Skinner bringing Diane Caldwell, Jade Moore and Signe Bruun to the club.
The England international Moore, who has previously played for Reading and Atlético Madrid, has signed a contract until the end of the season from Orlando Pride. The midfielder said that now is the right time to return to the English league.
“I’m delighted to be here at a club like Manchester United,” she said. “It’s a proud moment after a difficult period for me. It’s great to be back in this league too, I have a lot of experience in the WSL having played in it for around a decade, and I think I can bring some of that to this team.”’
Caldwell’s contract will run until the end of the season and the Republic of Ireland defender joins after spending the 2021 campaign at North Carolina Courage. Bruun, meanwhile, is a striker and Denmark international and has signed on loan until the end of the 2022-23 season from the French club Lyon.
United were not the only club to get deals over the line on the final day of the January window. Their close rivals Manchester City also secured an international close to the wire. Norway midfielder Julie Blakstad has joined Gareth Taylor’s side on a two-and-a-half year contract from Rosenborg, where she scored 17 goals in 35 appearances.
Arsenal’s Viktoria Schnaderbeck has moved across north London in a loan agreement with Tottenham. The Austrian captain will compete for Spurs until the end of the season and the club’s manager, Rehanne Skinner, said the defender will bring stability. “Viki will help us to establish control both in and out of possession with her ball quality,” Skinner said.
Aston Villa signed the defender Rachel Corsie in a two-and-a-half year deal which they hope will help them climb the table. It is a return to the WSL for the Scotland captain who played for Notts County and Birmingham City before heading to National Women’s Soccer League side Kansas City Current. Villa are ninth with 10 games left of the campaign.
Away from the WSL, the USWNT midfielder Lindsey Horan has gone out on loan to Lyon. The deal is one and a half seasons long but Portland Thorns fans can be reassured she will be back as she also re-signed for the NWSL side. The contract extension with the Thorns runs until 2025.
