After a challenging 2025-26 campaign, West Ham United look to stabilize under manager Rita Guarino following a busy summer transfer window.
Key facts
- •Rita Guarino took over as manager in December 2025 and led the team to 14 points from their final 11 WSL games.
- •West Ham finished the 2025-26 season in 10th place, ahead of Liverpool and Leicester.
- •The club spent £97,000 on agents' fees in the year leading up to February 2026, the lowest in the WSL.
- •New signing Kelly Gago scored 10 goals in 30 games for Everton last season.
- •The team has not played at West Ham's main stadium since September 2019.
West Ham United enters the 2026-27 Women’s Super League season following a difficult previous campaign that saw manager Rehanne Skinner dismissed in December. Former Italy forward Rita Guarino took over, eventually guiding the team to a 10th-place finish. After a summer that saw 14 player departures, the club has recruited 10 new signings to bolster the squad.
By the numbers
Squad Changes and Recruitment
The club saw significant turnover during the summer, with 14 players leaving, including Shekiera Martinez, Katrina Gorry, and Shelina Zadorsky. In response, West Ham added 10 new players to the roster. Notable arrivals include forwards Kelly Gago and Ebony Salmon, as well as defenders Estelle Cascarino, Nadine Riesen, and Laia Codina. Young talents Sienna Wareing and Niamh Peacock also joined the squad.
Club Operations and Infrastructure
West Ham’s women’s team continues to play home matches at Dagenham and Redbridge’s Victoria Road stadium, having not played at the club’s main stadium since September 2019. Financial transparency remains limited, as the club has not published detailed figures, citing audit exemptions. According to Football Association data, the club was the lowest spender on agents' fees in the WSL for the year ending February 2026, totaling £97,000.
Player Spotlight: Inès Belloumou
Defender Inès Belloumou, who joined from Bayern Munich in 2024, is expected to play a larger role this season. After spending time on loan to meet visa requirements, the 25-year-old recently represented Algeria at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where she was named to the team of the tournament and scored the winning penalty in the third-place playoff.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Football.
