Bristol City: Lexi Lloyd-Smith
The 21 year old signed a two year deal at the robins this summer after leaving the saints. She spent two seasons with Southampton as well as scoring on five occasions throughout her 24 months. The 2003 born forward started her career at Arsenal Academy before moving to Chelsea and Charlton Athletic. She then moved to the University of South Alabama and got an assist and goal on her debut in the states.
The Winger capitalises when she sees a loose ball and she loves both scoring and assisting of which Bristol would be grateful for her this season as they look to come back to the Women’s Super League on the first time of asking.
Birmingham City: Martha Harris
Aged 30, Martha Harris is one of the oldest in the ones to watch. Harris was the first winner of the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year in 2014 and her first season at Liverpool, they retained the WSL title in the final game of the season. In Manchester United’s Inaugural season, Martha Harris joined the red devils in July 2018 and played there for four years.
The full back is versatile and can play in more forward roles and can come in deeper to cover her centre backs when needed. Despite not playing a lot of football due to Injuries, she is one to watch this season for Birmingham as she comes forward a lot during the 90 and can provide cover when she plays.
Charlton: Ellie Brazil
The 25 year old arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer after featuring just 6 times. In November 2019, she first ruptured her ACL and returned to the matchday squad for Brighton in October 2020 but she first played minutes at the start of December. She had her first Tottenham Hotspur start at the end of October 2022 against Manchester City but she ruptured her ACL again.
She started off at Birmingham before moving to Fiorentina for a season in 2017. She then returned to England and went to Brighton and Hove Albion for 4 years and then moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2022. The forward loves to come up and receive balls coming in left right and centre to make sure that she can up her goal tally in the long run.
Durham: Rebecca Salicki
Rebecca Salicki has racked up over 100 appearances for Durham over her eight years at the club. The defender is versatile which would help the side in the north east as when needed she can come across the back line and help in any position that is needed.
This shows that she is a player to watch as she can be played across the whole of the back line which could help Durham in the long run to stay in the championship for another season.
London City Lionesses: Teyah Goldie
The Arsenal loanee moved to London City Lionesses for the 24/25 season in the summer. The 20 year old is a product of the Arsenal academy and made her debut in 2021 in the FA Cup. She made her Women’s Champions League debut in August 2021 before going on a dual registration to Watford in January 2022. In March, while playing against Sheffield United, she ruptured her ACL and on her 18th birthday later that year, she signed a professional contract.
After rupturing her ACL, this is goldie’s breakthrough season as she can fully focus on getting back to her winning ways and getting appearances under her belt for the London City Lionesses side. The defender is one to watch as she can breeze up and down the pitch and can cause trouble to the attackers that are looking for a goal.
Newcastle: Lia Cataldo
Newcomers Newcastle are one team to watch as a whole as they got promoted from the FA Women’s National League last season and are looking to secure another promotion. There have been plenty of new signings but one player that has stuck with the Magpies is Lia Cataldo. The 23 year old originally started in London with Millwall Lionesses before going onto to Arsenal and London City Lionesses.
She then went away from London to Leicester and Bristol City before moving to Crystal Palace in August 2023. She then joined United from Palace in January the following year. The defender has won back to back promotions with Bristol (22/23) and Newcastle (23/24) and is looking for another promotion. The defender is versatile on the ball and can chop and change when she desires, proving a difficult task for attackers.
Written by Lauren White
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