A third of Chelsea’s budget
The numbers are brutal. According to the latest WSL accounts, Manchester United are running their women’s side on a player budget barely over a third of Chelsea’s. About half of Arsenal’s.
That’s the backdrop.
Marc Skinner left by mutual consent a few weeks before the season kicked off. He had been in the job for more than five years, the league’s longest-serving manager when he went. He leaves behind two Champions League qualifications and a FA Cup in 2024. He also leaves a fourth-place finish, the club’s worst since 2021-22.
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Eva Olid arrives with a record
Her CV fits on a single line. She took Hearts from the foot of the SWPL table and made them champions in 2025-26. With the youngest squad in the division, average age under 24.
It is no accident United went after her.
The club cannot buy its way back to fourth. What it does have is kids. Layla Drury, 17, the youngest player in club history to sign pro terms, is already the youngest goalscorer after her FA Cup strike against Burnley in January. She played 47 minutes in the WSL across five appearances last season. Enough to create 1.9 chances per 90 minutes, bettered only by Leah Galton, who has since gone. No one at the club won the ball back more often on the same basis.
Behind her, Jessica Anderson, 18, has already made her WSL debut. Emma Watson, 20, returns after winning the title in Mexico with Tigres, three years on from her ACL injury on Scotland duty.
At last, a proper striker?
United had 15 different scorers in the WSL last year. A club record, and the best total in the league. That is not the issue.
The problem is nobody got past six. Terland, Park, Malard, all on six. None made the division’s top 10 scorers list. Malard has since moved to Chelsea, even though she carried the biggest attacking load at the club (99 goal involvements).
Monica Jusu Bah has arrived from Hacken after scoring 10 goals in the 2025 Damallsvenskan to address that. Andrea Medina comes in from Atletico at 22 after 357 carries last season, the fourth-highest total across Europe’s top five leagues.
The spine is still in decent shape. Maya Le Tissier touched the ball more than any other WSL player (1,996). Jess Park finished top of the division for successful dribbles (39). Ella Toone is one goal away from matching Galton’s club record.
Opta’s supercomputer gives United a 39.3% chance of finishing fourth. 3.8% for the title.
Their first pre-season outing ended without a win, away to London City Lionesses. We’ll find out soon enough.
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