Manchester United Women have completed the signing of Sweden forward Ellen Wangerheim from Hammarby on a contract running until June 2029. The 21-year-old becomes the third addition of the January transfer window for the Women's Super League side, following the arrivals of Hanna Lundkvist and Lea Schüller.
Matt Johnson, United's director of women's football, described Wangerheim as 'one of Europe's best young talents'. He said: 'As a dynamic, invasive and versatile forward Ellen brings variation and a natural scoring instinct to the team. Everyone at the club is excited to have her at Manchester United and the opportunity to help maximise her potential.'
Wangerheim, who helped Hammarby win the Swedish league and cup in 2023, said: 'I am so excited. It feels amazing to be here. It's a huge club with big history. So sitting here in this shirt is a proud moment for me. It's always been my dream to move abroad and to play in another country, in Europe and in a really big football club.'
The signing comes as United are set to be without midfielder Ella Toone for at least another six weeks due to a hip injury. The England international is likely to miss February's Women's Champions League playoff against Atlético Madrid, though head coach Marc Skinner confirmed on Friday she will return before the end of the season.
In the Women's Championship, Birmingham City have made a 'statement of intent' by breaking their club transfer record to sign Swedish attacking midfielder Wilma Leidhammar from Norrköping for approximately £273,000. The 22-year-old, a Sweden youth international, has scored 27 goals and registered 11 assists in Sweden's top division since 2022.
Leidhammar told City's website: 'From my first conversations with Amy [Merricks, head coach] and Hope [Powell, technical director], I could feel the ambition of the club straight away, and it felt like the right place for me.' Merricks added: 'With regards to the transfer fee, it is a real statement of intent from the club, and if anyone didn't take our ambition seriously, I hope they really do after this window, because it shows what we're pushing for.'
