All posts by z3u9t.icu

In a summer full of additions, Glasgow Rangers reportedly approached a former Premier League winger with the chance to reunite with Ibrox boss Russell Martin earlier this summer.

Antman "ready" for Rangers move

The latest in a long line of Gers incomings came in the form of Oliver Antman earlier this week. The former Go Ahead Eagles winger has put pen to paper on a deal worth around £4m, according to reports, and has instantly set his sights on making an immediate impact.

Speaking to Rangers’ official website, the new winger said: “When I first heard Rangers were interested, I was excited because it is a huge club, and you don’t get these kinds of opportunities many times in your life. The last couple of days have been really busy and stressful but now I am ready to settle in.

“I am excited for tomorrow, the first match at Ibrox. I have heard it is a special place, but I haven’t even seen it yet, so I am excited for everything that is to come. “I have trained with Go Ahead Eagles now for over a month, I have had five training matches and also a 90-minute game, so I’m fully fit and ready.

Bigger signing than Antman: Rangers must swoop for "complete" £7m star

Rangers could land an even bigger signing than Oliver Antman in a swoop for this star.

ByDan Emery Aug 5, 2025

“I think Scottish football is going to be a lot more physical but that is definitely something I can learn. To play for Rangers you have to win every single game, that is expected. You cannot skip a game, every single game is a must win. I am expecting a lot of wins and a lot of good times.”

After scoring seven goals and assisting another 17 in impressive fashion last season, those at Ibrox should have high expectations for Antman from the very off.

In an alternate reality, however, those in Glasgow could be preparing to welcome a winger who has already worked with Martin in the past.

Rangers made contact to sign Djenepo

According to Africa Foot, Rangers made contact to sign Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege earlier in the transfer window, approaching the winger over a summer switch. Ultimately, the deal didn’t progress, however, and the Gers have seemingly since turned towards Antman. But it is still worth pondering how much of an impact the former Southampton man could have made.

Interestingly, Djenepo is also a player that Martin is already familiar with. The winger appeared once for the Rangers boss during his time at Southampton before moving on to Standard Liege. Now, it seems as though the pair could have enjoyed a second chance to make up for lost time in the Scottish Premiership.

At just 27 years old, Djenepo is still very much capable of making his mark again. At his very best, former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl praised the Belgian for his “fantastic” work, as he starred in the Premier League for the Saints. Now looking to return to that level, reports suggest that Rangers and a reunion with Martin was an option for Djenepo this summer.

Looking to reinforce his midfield, David Moyes now reportedly wants to sign a Championship star who Everton are firmly in the race to secure this summer.

Everton turn focus towards midfield reinforcements

After strengthening their attack with the addition of Thierno Barry and the permanent arrival of Carlos Alcaraz, before then handing Jordan Pickford backup in the form of Mark Travers, Everton have set their sights on midfield additions.

The Toffees already proved that they can attract some impressive talent when they welcomed Barry from Villarreal and Moyes was left delighted by his arrival, telling Evertontv: “We are delighted to have brought Thierno to the Club. We see lots of potential and we are hoping for good things from him.

“We will give him plenty of time to settle in and we are looking forward to getting started working with him as soon as possible. I’m hoping to make more additions in the coming weeks.”

Now, however, the veteran manager will be hoping to steal further headlines with more much-needed additions. And, on that front, the focus in Merseyside seems to be finding a replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure, who left as a free agent at the end of last season.

To that end, names such as Tomas Soucek and even Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz have recently received mentions. Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that the Toffees have submitted a loan to buy offer to sign the latter in what would be an excellent deal for all parties involved.

Alongside Luiz, meanwhile, Moyes reportedly wants to welcome a Championship star, who is now pushing for a Premier League move this summer.

Everton now firmly in race to sign Hackney

According to GiveMeSport, Everton are now firmly in the race to sign Hayden Hackney and Moyes personally wants to secure the Middlesbrough star this summer.

What’s more, the England U21 international and his agent are reportedly pushing to finally complete a move to the Premier League before the end of the transfer window following yet another impressive Championship campaign.

Minutes

43

31

Goals

5

3

Tackles Won

56

28

Ball Recoveries

281

150

In terms of replacing Doucoure, Hackney would do that and so much more at The Hill Dickinson Stadium. The 23-year-old is Premier League ready and has been for at least two seasons. Now, he could finally be about to get a deserved move.

Everton set to make imminent £12m bid to sign midfield star who Moyes loves

He wants to work with Moyes…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 17, 2025

Boro will still be frustrated if he does depart, however, having watched on as their star often found himself at the centre of praise. Former manager Michael Carrick was often among those with nothing but positives to say, describing Hackney as “terrific” during his spell at the club, and will no doubt know more than most how much he deserves a Premier League move.

Manchester City have now held talks with a £78 million Real Madrid “superstar” as Arsenal continue to work on a transfer of their own, according to a new report.

City hold talks to sign Denzel Dumfries after Walker departure

On Saturday, City announced defender Kyle Walker had left the club to join Burnley, which puts an end to his eight-year stay at the Etihad. The England international has linked up with Scott Parker, who he played with at Tottenham Hotspur, on a two-year deal at Turf Moor. Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan.

Pep's new Cancelo: Man City accelerating move to sign £60m "superstar"

Pep Guardiola might be about to win his next João Cancelo by snapping up this £60m superstar for Manchester City.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 2, 2025

As the 35-year-old moves on from City, the Blues are now set to enter the market to find his replacement. Newcastle United’s Timo Livramento has been linked with a move to the Etihad for a few months now, and Football Insider’s Mick Brown believes City will accelerate a move to sign Livramento now Walker has left.

However, he is not their only option, as according to Football Transfers, City have held talks to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter. The Dutch international has been a key player for the Serie A giants over a number of seasons, but it is believed he could be available this summer for just £21.5 million due to a release clause in his contract that expires next week.

Man City hold talks to sign Rodrygo

While the Blues work on a deal for Dumfries, they are also busy working on another one that could blow the transfer market wide open. According to TBR Football, Man City have held discussions with the representatives of Rodrygo.

Rodrygo looks set to leave Real Madrid, as he doesn’t appear to be in the plans of Xabi Alonso, and he’s now held talks with City, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and others, as his availability has been made clear.

This news comes after it was reported that Arsenal are not only leading the charge to sign the Brazilian international in this transfer window but are even prepared to make an offer worth £78 million to bring him to the Emirates, a switch that Rodrygo is said to be open to making.

The 24-year-old, who has been dubbed a “superstar” by teammate Luka Modrić, scored six goals and recorded six assists in 30 La Liga games last season, as he was an important member of Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Apps

270

Goals

68

Assists

51

However, Rodrygo, who is under contract until 2028, looks to have failed to make an impression on Alonso, as the winger has played just three games in the Club World Cup, failing to appear in games against Pachuca and Juventus. Should he arrive at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola may see him as an upgrade on Jeremy Doku, who has shown flashes of his talent but struggled for consistency.

In a fresh transfer twist, The Friedkin Group are now reportedly working on a deal which would see Everton sign a £25m South American star with the help of AS Roma.

Calvert-Lewin confirms Everton exit

With contracts officially coming to an end around the Premier League, it’s no surprise that Everton’s transfer business has instantly shown signs of life. The Toffees are reportedly set to sign the impressive Thierno Barry and have also set their sights on a return for former loanee Jack Harrison in two deals that would reinforce their attack following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure.

The forward confirmed his departure after failing to sign a new contract in Merseyside, taking to social media to say: “The choice to move on was not simply about me, it was a decision with my family and we spent a long time considering together. We believe it’s the right moment to seek a new challenge and continue growing, but that doesn’t lessen the bond I’ll always have with Everton.

“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve shared, fighting for this club when it mattered most, scoring big goals in crucial moments, wearing the shirt with commitment and pride. My hope is that I leave with your respect, knowing I always sought to uphold the values of this great club.”

Friedkin have, of course, already reacted to that news by agreeing a deal to sign Barry, but they may not be done there on the transfer front. Reports are now suggesting that the American owners want to put their Roma links to sign a £25m defender for Everton.

Friedkin now working on Wesley deal

As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, Friedkin are now working on a move to sign Wesley in a deal that would see the Flamengo defender join Everton and then head straight out on loan to Roma. The Italian club are already reportedly working on a deal for the €30m (£26m) right-back, but it’s the Toffees who could benefit in the long run.

Bigger talent than Barry: Everton chasing £28m ace with a "hint of Haaland"

Following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s exit, Everton are set to sign Thierno Barry, but could they also target another striker who has a “hint of Haaland”?

Jul 3, 2025

Friedkin own majority stakes in both clubs and are seemingly looking to hand David Moyes and his side a major boost using that ownership. Whether the American owners can pull off a complicated deal remains to be seen, however. On Wesley’s end, there’s no doubt that Everton would be getting a talented player.

A player who has had his critics, as South American football expert Nathan Joyes explained in December, Wesley is still just 21 years old and his “pacey” speed could quickly help him transform into a Premier League star.

Glasgow Rangers made their first signing of the Russell Martin era last month when they confirmed the arrival of right-back Max Aarons on loan.

The former England U21 international will spend the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Ibrox, but Rangers do not have an option to make it permanent next summer, should they wish to.

Aarons will not be the last player to walk through the doors at Ibrox before the end of the summer transfer window, though, as Rangers are also in talks to sign Conor Coady to bolster their centre-back options.

The Scottish Premiership giants are also in the market to sign a new central midfielder, amid interest in Brazilian enforcer Metinho from Troyes.

Midfielder rejects clubs to sign for Rangers

There has not been any advance on their interest in Metinho as of yet, but the Gers are reportedly set to sign a new central midfielder from England.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Sky Sports journalist Mark McAdam, 30-year-old Bournemouth midfielder Joe Rothwell has turned down offers from teams in LaLiga to sign for Rangers.

The reporter adds that the Scottish giants have agreed a deal with the Premier League side to sign the right-footed maestro on a permanent deal, for an undisclosed fee.

McAdams states that Rothwell’s contract with the Cherries is due to expire at the end of next season, and the Gers have taken advantage of that to swoop in to snap him up this summer.

Rangers have beat stiff competition from European sides, in Spain’s top-flight, to plan the midfielder, who could arrive as Martin’s own version of Glen Kamara, who played 193 times for the Ibrox giants.

Why Joe Rothwell could be Glen Kamara 2.0 for Rangers

The Gers sold Kamara to Leeds in the summer of 2023, and now they could finally find a new metronomic, classy, midfield operator by signing this Bournemouth ace.

Funnily enough, Rothwell was signed by the English side to replace the Finland international when he left Elland Road to join Rennes last year.

As you can see by their respective performances for Leeds at Championship level, Leeds landed a like-for-like replacement, as both players excel at progressing play and creating chances for their teammates with their immense passing quality.

The £15k-per-week star was described as a “pure baller” by manager Daniel Farke, and his statistics in the English second tier in the 2024/25 campaign back up that comment.

Passes completed

63.74

Top 6%

Long passes completed

6.44

Top 2%

xA

0.22

Top 4%

Key passes

2.44

Top 1%

Progressive passes

6.64

Top 8%

Passes into the final third

7.40

Top 2%

As you can see in the table above, Rothwell ranked very highly among his positional peers as a passer and as a creator in the Championship, which further backs up how similar he is to Kamara.

The English midfielder ended the season with 5.42 xA and four assists to his name in 24 league starts, which shows that he can create high-quality chances for his teammates at an impressive rate.

Kamara provided a calming presence in midfield with his ability to pass the ball, but the Finnish sensation also offered quality in the final third with a return of 11 assists in all competitions for the Gers.

Therefore, Rangers may have landed Martin his own version of the former Light Blues midfield maestro by winning the race ahead of European sides to sign Rothwell this summer.

Dream Raskin replacement: Rangers to ramp up move for "exciting" £4m star

Rangers are ready to step up their pursuit of a star who could be a replacement for Nicolas Raskin.

ByDan Emery Jul 1, 2025

Arsenal need a striker this summer but with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko in Andrea Berta’s crosshairs, he’s also directing attention towards signing a new winger.

Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been a name regularly linked with an Emirates Stadium switch this summer but whether that move happens remains to be seen.

One deal that is certainly unlikely to happen this summer is Nico Williams, with the Spaniard now reportedly closing in on his dream Barcelona move.

Why Arsenal will need a Nico Williams alternative

After a sublime campaign at Euro 2024 last summer, Williams has been the talk of the town with his club, Athletic Bilbao, even heralding him as “one of the best wingers in the world”.

That is certainly the case and it explains why Arsenal have found negotiating a deal difficult.

Last winter, it was reported that Arteta was dreaming of signing the Spain international but at no point has a deal ever looked close.

Indeed, despite fresh interest this summer, it looks though the attacker is heading to Barcelona.

The latest was provided by the Athletic’s David Ornstein on Tuesday morning who claims that both the Gunners and Chelsea have ‘cooled’ their interest in the 22-year-old as ‘Barcelona step up pursuit & Bayern Munich consider move.’

Barca want to do a deal and have already made a contract offer to the young winger.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

So, with that move off the table, where will Arsenal’s attention turn next? Perhaps Anthony Gordon?

According to a report from the Athletic, Arteta and Co have had three names in particular on their shortlist to improve their ranks in the wide positions.

Williams was one of them, Rodrygo is the other and the final name is Newcastle United’s Gordon.

Arsenal are known to be long-term fans of the England international, with this report noting that he is ‘of interest’ to the north Londoners and that they are keen ‘admirers’ of his qualities.

Why Gordon could be even better than Nico Williams

You don’t attract the interest of Barca without being a mighty fine player and in Williams, you have Spain’s next hope alongside Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank.

Williams certainly isn’t as exciting as Yamal but he’s still one of the most promising young forwards on the European scene.

However, his numbers haven’t actually been too impressive in recent seasons. During 2023/24, the Bilbao star scored just eight times in all competitions. Impressively, he did register as many as 18 assists.

This season, he scored 11 goals while registering seven assists in 45 games with only five of those goals coming in LaLiga action.

In comparison, Gordon’s numbers aren’t otherworldly but they are on par and he’s already been producing it in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old scored nine times and posted seven assists in 42 outings during 2024/25, which wasn’t quite as impressive as his return the campaign prior. In what was the best season of his career, the former Everton man scored 12 and assisted 16 goals.

So, over the last two years, there isn’t a huge amount to separate them, but what do the other numbers say?

Goals

0.29

0.21

Assists

0.21

0.34

Shots

2.31

2.33

Key passes

1.82

1.84

Progressive passes

3.36

2.85

Successful take-ons

1.55

3.26

Progressive carries

4.38

5.52

Well, again there isn’t much to separate them. Williams is more carry-heavy, but if Arsenal are looking for goals, and they are, the “unbelievable” Gordon – in the words of teammate Bruno Guimaraes – is the better option.

Over the last few seasons, Arsenal have simply been too reliant on Bukayo Saka on the right flank to come up with the goods. In 2023/24, he was the club’s top scorer with 20 goals and this season, he was right up there again despite missing half of the campaign with a hamstring injury.

He ended the campaign on 12 goals, just three behind leading marksman Kai Havertz. As for Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, they suffered from long periods of inconsistency throughout the campaign.

The latter scored ten in 56, once every 5.6 games, while the former scored ten in 51, once every 5.1 outings. As for Gordon, he scored once every four matches two seasons ago and once every 4.6 appearances in 2024/25.

So, with Arteta clearly on the lookout for goals, Gordon could just be the man they need this summer. It’s just a pity he boasts an asking price of around £100m. That certainly makes it less likely to happen.

Not just Sesko: Arsenal in talks to sign £84m star who's like Nico Williams

Arsenal are looking to sign new forwards in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 8, 2025

Following reports that Bryan Mbeumo favours a move to Manchester United this summer, Newcastle United have reportedly turned their attention towards a £51m alternative and PIF could soon open talks.

Mbeumo deals Newcastle frustrating blow

After qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup last season, it wouldn’t be absurd to assume that Newcastle entered this summer in a position of strength in the transfer window, especially compared to Manchester United. By contrast, the Red Devils suffered their worst-ever finish in the Premier League and compiled their misery by suffering defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

Newcastle negotiating to make £113k-p/w PSG ace their second summer signing

The Magpies are on the lookout for qualify reinforcements.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 11, 2025

Without Champions League football or European football at all, for that matter, it was easy to predict that the lure of Old Trafford simply wouldn’t be the same this summer. That assumption would have been wrong, however. The Theatre of Dreams seemingly remains exactly that. Already, Matheus Cunha has picked the Red Devils in a move worth £63m and now Mbeumo looks destined to follow suit.

It’s frustrating news for Newcastle, who will feel as though they did everything right to put themselves in a position to sign such talents. Nonetheless, they’ve been forced to look towards alternatives in hope of signing the winger that they’ve been searching for across the last 12 months.

To that end, Anthony Elanga has been the main alternative mentioned in recent weeks with Newcastle reportedly making the Nottingham Forest star their top target. But he’s not alone on their shortlist, with reports now indicating that Newcastle are also targeting a move to sign a £51m winger.

Newcastle and PIF could open Catamo talks

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle and PIF could now open talks to sign Geny Catamo from Sporting Club this summer. The Magpies are one of a number of clubs interested in the young winger in a race which includes Atletico Madrid as well as Arsenal, and may now make their move.

Sources told Caught Offside there is an expectation that some clubs test the waters with an opening offer worth as much as €30m (£25m) in the coming months. Given that Catamo reportedly has a release clause worth €60m (£51m), it seems unlikely that they will accept a sale worth less than half of that price this summer.

Minutes

1,911

3,414

Goals

5

20

Assists

2

7

Expected Goals

5.4

12.3

Whilst he did add another two goals to take his total to seven outside of league action, Catamo’s numbers should be seen as a concern for Newcastle. If they were forced to pay the winger’s full release clause, then they should keep their focus on Elanga rather than spending big on a talent who is yet to prove himself on the big stage.

Crystal Palace have now opened talks to sign a Champions League player on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.

Eagles have lofty ambitions after FA Cup triumph

Oliver Glasner is expected to remain at Selhurst Park beyond the end of the campaign, despite no doubt catching the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs by leading Palace to FA Cup glory, and Steve Parish has now insisted the board must match their manager’s ambition.

The Palace chairman said: “He (Glasner) will stay here, for some period of time,”

“Of course we want him to stay but things happen in football, clubs evolve and move on and I’d love him to stay but the club has to develop and show the ambition in terms of the things we have to do to move it forward for people to feel part of something. If that all aligns maybe it will.”

With the summer transfer window now fast approaching, the Eagles have started to identify some ambitious transfer targets too, with Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee Kang-In and Lyon star Rayan Cherki entering the frame in recent days.

There has now been a new update on a defender Crystal Palace are keen on in a report from The Sun, which states they have now opened talks over a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Reinildo Mandava, who is set to leave the Spanish club for free this summer.

Mandava’s contract is set to expire this summer, and he is attracting a lot of attention from the Premier League, with Everton and Fulham also being named as potential suitors, although they are seemingly yet to make any formal moves.

Crystal Palace now keen to sign £20m maestro; could join in Guehi swap deal

Palace have set their sights on a midfielder, who could join as part of a swap deal for Marc Guehi.

ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025

It appears as though the Eagles are more advanced than their Premier League rivals in their pursuit of the Atletico ace, having already entered discussions to sign the 31-year-old, with Glasner keen to wrap up a lot of his transfer business early this summer.

"True gladiator" Mandava could be shrewd signing

The report states the Atletico defender is being targeted to provide competition for Tyrick Mitchell at left-back, and there are certainly indications he would be able to do exactly that, given his experience at the top level.

The left-back has made 25 appearances in the Champions League, while also featuring regularly for Atletico in La Liga over the past four seasons, indicating he could be a solid back-up option for Mitchell at the very least.

Average per 90

Tyrick Mitchell

Reinildo Mandava

Assists

0.15

0

Tackles

2.65

2.13

Blocks

1.98

0.96

Clearances

3.14

2.82

Lauded as a “true gladiator” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Mandava is an experienced defender, who could provide depth heading into a congested 2024-25 campaign, given qualification for the Europa League, but Mitchell has proven himself as more of a well-rounded full-back over the past year.

Arsenal are active early doors as we enter the mini-summer transfer window, which is open from June 1 to June 10, and gives Andrea Berta the chance to register new players in quick fashion before pre-season.

Arsenal in "concrete" Benjamin Sesko talks as Berta gets busy

Despite Berta holding extensive discussions over a move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres (Florian Plettenberg), with reports in Portugal also suggesting they’ve made a contract offer to the Sweden international, it now appears RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is the favourite to become Arsenal’s new striker as things stand.

Thierry Henry hails "complete" £114k-p/w star who Arsenal are favourites to sign

The Gunners legend has explained why he’d be a fantastic addition.

ByEmilio Galantini May 30, 2025

Earlier this week, trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano shared information from his sources that “concrete” talks over signing Sesko have started, and this is echoed by Sky Germany’s Plettenberg.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Berta is said to have met with Leipzig director, Marcel Schafer, in London a few days ago, where they discussed the Slovenia international’s future. Arsenal’s focus is currently on Sesko, despite still having Gyokeres high up their shortlist of striker targets, with club-to-club negotiations underway.

Sesko bagged 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last term, bettering his tally of 18 from the previous season, and he already rejected a proposal to join the Gunners last summer, as well as offers from Chelsea and Man United, in favour of remaining at his current club.

Arteta is also reported to be a big fan of Sesko behind-the-scenes, with the Spaniard refusing to give up as Arsenal attempt to lure the 22-year-old to north London once again.

Arsenal offered Leroy Sane amid Benjamin Sesko talks

Arsenal also want to sign a new winger this summer, and they’ve been “very active” in the market when it comes to this key goal. Berta has held “numerous talks” with potential targets (Florian Plettenberg), with Bayern Munich’s £242,000-per-week winger Leroy Sane emerging as a key option.

Credible media sources report that Arsenal are looking at signing Sane on a free transfer (The Times), with talks over a new Bayern deal failing to reach a conclusion as things stand, despite the efforts of super-agent Pini Zahavi.

Now, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, answering questions in a Q&A, claims Arsenal have been “offered” the chance to sign Sane on a free deal, alongside Tottenham, but their London rivals are unlikely to take up this opportunity.

“He’s [Sane] been offered to Spurs and Arsenal but could also stay at Bayern Munich,” said Bridge.

“I don’t think Spurs will sign him.”

The 29-year-old possesses great top-level experience from his time at Man City and in Bavaria, scoring a century of goals across those two spells with a further 99 assists in all competitions.

He could be a fantastic alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, but his desired contract could prove problematic. Sane is apparently after a £192,000-per-week base salary with £2.5 million in bonuses and a signing-on fee to remain at Bayern (Sky and Sport Bild), so it remains to be seen if Berta is willing to give in to those demands.

The Women’s FA Cup has just as much magic as its male equivalent, with the finale’s place at the end of the domestic calendar handing two teams the opportunity to finish the campaign on a high in front of a large capacity crowd.

That has only been heightened by the welcome rise in prominence within the women’s game of late, with the FA Cup final being held at Wembley Stadium since 2015.

While the national stadium has typically only been half full for such occasions in the past, the 2023 final between Chelsea and Manchester United saw over 77,000 witness the Blues secure a third straight triumph through Sam Kerr’s winner.

Large crowds like these are now the norm for showpiece women’s events, particularly at Wembley, with the FA Cup final and England internationals well in the habit of bringing in spectators en masse.

The 2024 final was further evidence of this, with United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur again drawing in over 75,000 supporters.

But who are the most successful clubs in the FA Cup’s history? Here is a look at the history of the competition and a detailed look at the most recent finals.

Women's FA Cup history timeline

1970: Following the lifting of a ban on women’s football, which had stood for nearly 50 years, the first FA Cup tournament is held by the Women’s Football Association (WFA). The National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace hosts the first final in 1971, won by Southampton Women’s FC.

1993: The Football Association takes administrative control of the competition, along with the rest of women’s football in England.

2015: The final is held at Wembley Stadium for the first time, as 30,000 spectators see Chelsea defeat Notts County 1-0.

2023: A world-record crowd attends a domestic cup final, nearly 12 months on from the Euro 2022 final at a sold-out Wembley.

2024/25 Women's FA Cup

The 2024/25 FA Cup takes place on Sunday, 18th May, one day after the men’s event. This year’s women’s final is between Chelsea and Manchester United, in what is a repeat of the 2023 final.

Chelsea are going for a treble after being crowned as unbeaten champions and having won the League Cup back in March, while holders United are defending their FA Cup crown, which was won through their 4-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in May 2024.

It has been an exceptional first year in charge for Sonia Bompastor since replacing Emma Hayes, with the Blues’ only defeats this term coming in the Champions League to Manchester City and Barcelona.

Manchester United are looking to end the season on a high after having to settle for third following their 4-3 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of the WSL season.

Women’s FA Cup past winners

18 different clubs have won the Women’s FA Cup, with Arsenal being the record winners, having won it 14 times.

Southampton Women’s FC is the next-most successful club, winning eight times, most recently in 1981.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s record is only bettered by Doncaster Belles, who appeared in 11 out of 12 finals between 1983 and 1994, winning six times. However, the Blues can draw level with them in 2025.

Club

Times won

Last won

Arsenal

14

2016

Southampton Women’s FC

8

1981

Doncaster Belles

6

1994

Chelsea

5

2023

Manchester City

3

2020

Charlton Athletic

3

2005

Everton

2

2010

Fulham

2

2003

Millwall Lionesses

2

1997

Manchester United

1

2024

Birmingham City

1

2012

Norwich City

1

1986

AFC Wimbledon Women

1

1985 (as Friends of Fulham)

Howbury Grange

1

1984

Lowestoft Ladies

1

1982

St Helens

1

1980

Queen’s Park Rangers

1

1977

Fodens

1

1974

Previous FA Cup finals 12th May 2024: Manchester United 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United sealed their first FA Cup triumph against first-time finalists Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 in a comprehensive victory at Wembley.

Ella Toone got the ball rolling just before the end of the first period, with her long-range rocket adding to her catalogue of big-game goals.

The second half saw Spurs tire and crumble under the wave of United attacks, with Rachel Williams’ header and Lucia Garcia’s double seeing the Red Devils run out deserved winners.

Beth England came closest for the runners-up when her header smashed the bar, but there could be no complaints about the final result as United claimed their first major trophy.

14th May 2023: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United

Chelsea secured a league and cup double in 2023 after battling to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Marc Skinner’s side had most of the better chances, particularly in the first half when they had a goal ruled out for offside in the opening minute and forced Ann-Katrin Berger into a number of important saves.

Sam Kerr turned home Pernille Harder’s pinpoint cross in the second half, to which the Red Devils had no reply.

15th May 2022: Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City (aet)

The Blues edged a five-goal thriller against United’s closest rivals in 2022. Sam Kerr nodded Chelsea ahead before Lauren Hemp equalised just before half-time.

Erin Cuthbert’s screamer restored the Blues’ lead and had looked set to be the match-winner until Hayley Raso’s fine finish forced extra time.

Both sides had chances in the extra period, but Kerr took the crucial one in the 99th minute, with her deflected strike handing Chelsea another FA Cup.

5th December 2021: Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

Postponed due to the pandemic, the 2021 finale took place nearly seven months later than usual. The date chosen for the final came a century after the FA’s ban on women’s football in 1921.

It was Chelsea who once again emerged victorious, as opponents Arsenal came up against an inspired Kerr, who scored twice after Fran Kirby’s early opener to seal a comfortable victory.

1st November 2020: Everton 1-3 Manchester City (aet)

Played in front of no fans during the pandemic-affected 2020/21 campaign, Man City won their third FA Cup in four seasons with an extra-time victory over Everton, who were in the first final in six years.

The 50th Women’s FA Cup final saw Sam Mewis’ header put Gareth Taylor’s team in front, before Valerie Gauvin’s equaliser from a corner took the sides to extra time.

Georgia Stanway’s poked finish left City with one hand on the cup, and she laid the ball on a plate for Janine Beckie to finally put the game to bed and secure a second successive cup triumph.