​Manchester United Women have shown impressive progress in recent years. The club, established in 2018, has climbed from the second division to become one of the most consistent sides in the country. Highlights include lifting the club’s first trophy in 2024, when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur Women 4-0 to win the FA Cup final at Wembley. The previous season marked their first League Cup final appearance and a memorable run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
However, head coach Marc Skinner’s side experienced a downturn late in the season, with a fourth-place finish leaving them outside European qualification. Beyond on-pitch results, the club faces two significant threats to breaking into the upper echelon of women’s football both domestically and abroad. Ineos has never seemed to fully grasp the magnitude of the women’s team or its importance to the fans. Early controversies, such as relocating the women’s squad from their usual training facilities while the men’s Carrington complex was being renovated, highlighted underlying tensions. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s remarks in 2024, implying the men’s program would take priority, further unsettled supporters who want parity between the two squads.
To be fair, United have not neglected signings. Last summer brought in solid additions like Jess Park, Julia Zigiotti, and Fridolina Rolfo, though Rolfo arrived on a free transfer and Park was part of a swap deal involving Grace Clinton. In the winter window, Ellen Wangerheim, Hanna Lundkvist, and Lea Schuller arrived as well, but once again, the financial commitment did not reflect a high-spend, long-term strategy. The club’s handling of the women’s team has often seemed less decisive than its management of the men’s side, leaving some issues to linger unresolved.
Skinner’s position appears precarious, and he is far from universally popular among the fanbase, yet the club has been reluctant to take decisive action. Additionally, star players such as Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, and Melvine Malard have been linked with moves away, but there has been no strong public effort to quell these rumours, leaving supporters anxious about the coming campaign.
The core challenge for United, however, lies in the transfer activity of their rivals. Chelsea have vaulted ahead in terms of spending, most recently adding highly rated Japanese international Manaka Matsukubo. Arsenal, who finished above United, have strengthened by acquiring Bayern Munich’s Georgia Stanway and former Red Devil Ona Batlle from FC Barcelona. Champions Manchester City have also been active, signing England internationals Beth Mead and Niamh Charles, and they managed to retain their prolific goalscorer, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw. Not only have United’s direct competitors reinforced, but teams just below them in the table have also closed the gap substantially. London City Lionesses, for instance, finished two places and 13 points behind United, signaling that the battle for top spots will remain intensely competitive.
With the landscape shifting rapidly, United’s challenge is clear: match and surpass the capex and recruitment strategies of their top rivals while ensuring stability and unity within the women’s setup. The next phase will be crucial in determining whether the club can recapture and sustain a position at the very summit of domestic and European competition.