WSL deadline day: Arsenal sign keeper Votikova on loan, Kramzar joins Everton | OneFootball

Arsenal signed the Czech Republic goalkeeper Barbora Votikova on loan from Slavia Prague, while Everton completed a move for the Slovenia midfielder Zara Kramzar from Roma late on the Women’s Super League’s transfer deadline day.

The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain player will provide valuable cover in goal, with Manuela Zinsberger having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in October and Anneke Borbe being stretchered off during Sunday’s Champions Cup final victory over Corinthians following a collision. Borbe was discharged from hospital later that day.

Votikova is experienced in the Champions League and has 56 senior international caps. “It feels amazing to join this special club,” said the 29-year-old. “Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a special team and special supporters, so it’s a huge honour for me to come here.”

Kramzar’s move to Everton is a loan for the rest of the season with an obligation for Everton to buy the 20-year-old this summer. She is their third loan addition of the winter, after the experienced Manchester United full-back Hannah Blundell and the young Arsenal midfielder Laila Harbert.

“I can’t wait. I am really looking forward to playing at Goodison Park and seeing the fans,” Kramzar told EvertonTV. “It is nice to be the first Slovenian in the WSL. I am excited to show on the pitch what I can do now. I enjoyed playing in Italy but I’ve always wanted to go to England, I think it is the best league in the world.”

London City Lionesses signed the Denmark youth international midfielder Malou Marcetto from Madrid CFF on Tuesday afternoon, but most WSL clubs completed their winter business early, so the rush for the 11pm deadline was far less frantic than in recent windows. In September, a flurry of last-minute deals went through, including Chelsea’s signing of Alyssa Thompson.

This time, Chelsea had an offer rejected by Paris Saint-Germain for the Nigeria midfielder Jennifer Echegini. Leicester inquired about taking the England youth international midfielder Lexi Potter on loan, but Chelsea were not willing to sanction that after failing to sign Echegini.

In WSL2, promotion-chasing Bristol City signed the Poland defender Oliwia Wos from Nuremberg on a three-and-a-half-year contract, for an undisclosed fee.

Newcastle signed the American forward Simone Charley on a free transfer. The former Portland Thorns and Angel City player, who is also a former college track and field athlete, left Orlando Pride at the end of 2025.

Sheffield United turned down offers for their forward Amy Andrews, but there was other movement elsewhere. Ipswich signed the 18-year-old full-back Nelly Las on loan from Leicester for the rest of the campaign, and Nottingham Forest added the 18-year-old Brighton striker Olivia Johnson on loan.

Header image: [Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images]