Manchester City Women begin the defence of their Women's Super League title as the team to beat, according to a season preview reported by The Guardian Football this week. The reigning champions finished the 2025-26 campaign four points clear of Arsenal W, topping the table with 55 points from 22 games.
How has the squad changed for the new season?
Manager Andrée Jeglertz has overseen significant squad evolution. The major departure is Brazil forward Kerolin, who left for Barcelona. To compensate, the club made two high-profile free transfers. England international Beth Mead arrived from Arsenal on a three-year deal after nine years with the Gunners. The 31-year-old is the WSL's all-time leading assist provider and has 81 caps for her country. Defender Niamh Charles also joined from Chelsea, filling the gap left by Leila Ouahabi's exit.
The most important piece of business was securing the future of Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw. The WSL's top scorer and best player of last season signed a new four-year contract in May 2026, avoiding a free transfer. You can view the full squad for the title defence on our squad page.
What are the strengths of this Manchester City side?
Their home form is formidable. Manchester City Women play their home league fixtures at the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium, which hosted matches at Euro 2022. They were unbeaten there in the league last season and haven't lost a WSL game at the venue since a 4-3 thriller against Arsenal in February 2025. Their attacking threat is diverse; they scored at least twice as many set-piece goals as any other team in 2025-26, netting 62 times while conceding just 19.
Individual quality runs deep. Alongside Shaw and Mead, full-back Kerstin Casparij provided the joint-most assists in the division last term. The club's infrastructure also received a boost with the opening of a new £10m training centre, complete with underwater treadmills and a barista-style coffee machine.
Who is the manager leading the charge?
Andrée Jeglertz, 54, is entering his second season in charge after overseeing a league and cup double in his first. He arrived at Manchester City Women after managing Denmark's women's national team and previously won a European title with Swedish club Umeå in 2004. Jeglertz outlined the challenge ahead, saying, "Our biggest challenge this year is to continue winning and, at the same, compete in other competitions and also want to win those."
The club's off-field leadership remains stable under managing director Charlotte O'Neill and director of football Therese Sjögren, with the wider City Football Group providing backing.
Which young talent is breaking through?
Eighteen-year-old Sacha Lewis signed her first professional contract in August. The younger sister of Manchester City men's full-back Rico Lewis, she was the player of the season for City's 'Next Gen' team last term. Lewis has been a regular for England Under-19s and has been named in the Under-20 squad for the Women's Under-20 World Cup in Poland this September. Her development is a key part of the club's long-term planning.
When are the key fixtures this season?
The season begins at home to Birmingham City. The first major test comes early, with a clash against Arsenal on 4 October. The derby against Manchester United is scheduled for 14 February. Fans can track all the key dates on our fixtures page and follow the team's progress in the standings. The champions ended last season with recent form of WWLWW, setting a high standard they aim to maintain. Their first match at the Joie Stadium is against Birmingham City as they look to extend their impressive home record.
