Everton Women enter the 2026-27 Women's Super League season with fresh optimism under new manager Scott Phelan, following an eighth-place finish last term. The club has strengthened its attack with several new signings and faces a relatively kind start to the campaign.
New-Look Attack and Summer Business
Everton's transfer activity has been positive, with Jutta Rantala, Noémie Mouchon, and Hannah Cain arriving from relegated Leicester City. Slovenia midfielder Zara Kramzar's loan from Roma has been made permanent, as has Hannah Blundell's move from Manchester United. The Blundell deal was revealed in unusual fashion when the 32-year-old emerged from a makeshift 'coffin' during a walkout at May's World Sevens Football event in London.
The club has high hopes for Australia forward Holly McNamara, signed on a free transfer from Melbourne City, where she won back-to-back Golden Boot awards in the A-League. With McNamara alongside Cain and Mouchon, Everton boast a completely new-look attack. England youth centre-back Hannah Silcock has also joined from Liverpool.
Favourable Start to the Season
Phelan's team begin with back-to-back matches against newly-promoted Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic, followed by a home fixture against the other promoted side, Birmingham City. They also face West Ham and Liverpool, who finished 10th and 11th last season, before meeting any of last season's top three teams in November. Everton will be keen to make a fast start and accumulate points before a tougher run of games around the winter break.
Off-Field and Managerial Changes
The women's team was sold to the men's parent company, Roundhouse Capital Holdings, last year, a move understood to be aimed at helping the men's team comply with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules. The team trains at the Finch Farm complex in Halewood, shared with the men.
Phelan was formally appointed in June after a four-month interim spell, taking over from the sacked Brian Sørensen. The 38-year-old former Everton youth midfielder is in his first senior managerial job after coaching in the club's boys' academy. He has spoken of his “unbelievable pride” at being given the role.
Key Players and Expectations
England youth defender Naomi Layzell has joined on loan from Manchester City. The 22-year-old came to prominence with a goal against Barcelona in the Women's Champions League two years ago but has suffered injury setbacks since. She has previously been called up to train with Sarina Wiegman's England side.
Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan said: “It’s been a tough pre-season in terms of the physical load and things like that, but that’s great preparation for the season. It’s just so important to get everyone on the same page early on. We want to do as well as we can in terms of getting results and being where we want to be in the table.”
Everton will continue to play all home games at Goodison Park, where they moved last summer. Guard writers' predicted position for the club is 10th, while last season they finished eighth.
