With women's football in most countries on its winter break, it is prime time for clubs, players and agents to sit down and sort out contracts. But while there are some names entering the final six months of their current deals who many would be shocked not to see renew with their current teams, there are also plenty of others who are likely to be seriously considering other options in 2026.
There is no shortage of situations to keep an eye on, either. Elite clubs like Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea have huge swathes of stars on expiring contracts, with the Catalans' activity particularly interesting to keep an eye on given the financial restraints they are working within, and even the clubs who have largely kept up with their renewals still have a big star or two in a precarious position.
So, who are some of the top players who can start negotiating transfers this month? GOAL picks out a whole host of high-profile names who could be on the move now that 2026 has arrived…
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Beth Mead (Arsenal)
While Arsenal are one of very few clubs in the women's game who do not officially reveal the length of players' contracts, it's understood that the Gunners have quite a few members of their squad who have just entered the final six months of their current deals, with Beth Mead one of the most notable.
The England international was the subject of transfer speculation last summer, when newly-promoted London City Lionesses tried to persuade her to move across the capital in order to aid them in their first season in the Women's Super League. However, Mead stayed put, telling : “When you’ve been somewhere this long it holds a very precious place in your heart. I have another year left on my contract, I still think I’m more than good enough to compete and be able to play in this team and I know I bring something different.”
Mead has lived up to that billing so far this season, standing out as one of Arsenal's best players despite the Gunners' generally disappointing to this point, having certainly raised expectations by winning the Champions League back in May. Will the club be keen to keep her around, then? If not, there are sure to be plenty of other options for the in-form 30-year-old.
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Hannah Hampton (Chelsea)
Chelsea have no fewer than 10 players out of contract this summer, with head coach Sonia Bompastor set to make some huge decisions over the next few months. One of the easier ones, one would imagine, will surround Hannah Hampton. The England No.1 is sure to be right near the top of the Blues' list of priorities, if not at the very top of it, given her importance to this team and her world-class quality.
It would be a real surprise if Hampton didn't sign a new deal at Chelsea, but that's not because she should lack other options. As one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not best in the world, there are sure to be some other huge clubs with an eye on Hampton's contract situation. This is one Chelsea will want to get sorted as soon as possible.
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Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
It only feels like yesterday that Alexia Putellas renewed terms at Barcelona, but her two-year contract extension, signed in May 2024, is already close to expiring and is a big task on the to-do list in Catalunya for the next few months.
Barca are working within financial constraints this season, the kind of which have caused issues for the men's side for a long time and are now impacting the women's team. It means that the club has to be very particular with its renewals, as seen by the flurry of exits that took place last summer.
However, Putellas is one of the names that stands out on what is quite an extensive list of out-of-contract players. A two-time Ballon d'Or winner, the 31-year-old had arguably her best season to date in Catalunya last term, and one might even say, at the halfway stage, that this campaign is turning out to be even better. It won't be a cheap renewal but, given Putellas' quality, she is quite clearly worth the price – and if Barca don't get it done, as Paris Saint-Germain's interest in the summer showed, someone else will quite happily pounce to add one of the best players in the world to their squad.
It is worth noting that there is at least an option in Putellas' contract for an extra year, which could buy Barca some time if the finances need to be organised in a particular way.
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Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich had a few big contract decisions to sort heading into the winter break, and while striker Lea Schuller's has been sold to Manchester United and centre-back Glodis Viggosdottir has had her deal extender, there is still uncertainty surrounding Georgia Stanway, the Lionesses star who is rumoured to be leaving the club after a four-year spell, though reports that Bayern are fighting hard to keep hold of her.
Could the 26-year-old be heading back to England? No specific links to the two-time European Championship-winning midfielder have arisen yet, but that may change as clubs start to assess their options in the January transfer market and beyond. After all, one would certainly expect Stanway to be in demand, as a top-class talent with plenty of winning experience.
