Main contenders start strengthening
Thursday, June 4, 2015
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The 2014/15 season has barely finished and already the 2015/16 contenders are strengthening: we look at the arrivals at the three German and two French giants.
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Only three weeks has passed since 1. FFC Frankfurt won the UEFA Women's Champions League – but they and several of 2015/16's other key contenders have already been busy in the transfer market, specifically the teams from France and Germany who are on their holidays. UEFA.com looks at the main moves of the last couple of weeks before the focus shifts to internationals and the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.
Verónica Boquete:
1. FFC Frankfurt to FC Bayern München
Sara Däbritz:
SC Freiburg to FC Bayern München
Having previously captured 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam's Scotland forward Lisa Evans, newly-crowned unbeaten German champions Bayern are proving just how serious they are about their European bid next season. The only Frauen Bundesliga entrants not to win the UEFA title at their first attempt (2009/10), Bayern already looked a lot more formidable than six years ago before they added 20-year-old Germany midfielder Däbritz.
But the real statement of intent was to lure Spain playmaker Boquete a matter of days after she helped Frankfurt beat Paris Saint-Germain in Berlin, her second straight final after defeat with Tyresö FF against VfL Wolfsburg in Lisbon. One of the highest-profile players in the women's game, Boquete has been central to the transformation of Spain's fortunes and Frankfurt captain Kerstin Garefrekes said of her: "Technically she is perfect, she is an excellent dribbler and very dangerous in front of goal."
Jackie Groenen:
Chelsea LFC to 1. FFC Frankfurt
It did not take long for Frankfurt to respond to Boquete's departure as on Tuesday they recruited Belgium midfielder Groenen from European debutants Chelsea, a club who themselves are expected to make some high-profile signings after the World Cup. A Dutch junior judo champion, Groenen already has German experience with SG Essen-Schönebeck and MSV Duisburg, and she said joining Frankfurt "has been a goal since the day I started playing football".
Frankfurt's other reinforcement is Germany Under-20 midfielder Theresa Panfil from Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Meanwhile, leaving Frankfurt are Svenja Huth and Bianca Schmidt, for German rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam who will not be in Europe next term.
Tessa Wullaert:
Standard Fémina Liegé to VfL Wolfsburg
Earlier in the spring Wolfsburg secured the double signing of France midfielder Élise Bussaglia and Switzerland playmaker Lara Dickenmann from Olympique Lyonnais, but that did not end the deposed European and German champions' transfer business. Belgium forward Wullaert was top scorer in the last-ever campaign of the cross-border BeNe League in 2014/15, scoring 18 goals as Standard took the title and was also voted player of the year.
Griedge Mbock Bayhu, Claire Lavogez, Aurélie Kaci, Pauline Bremer:
All to Olympique Lyonnais
Lyon, who stormed to a ninth straight French championship after a second consecutive UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 exit, are not letting up in terms of ambition despite Bussaglia and Dickenmann's farewell. Defender Mbock Bathy, arriving on a four-year deal from EA Guingamp, was player of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, won by France, and is in the squad for the senior World Cup in Canada.
Midfielder Lavogez, who won the 2013 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship alongside Mbock Bathy and is also in Canada, comes over from Montpellier Hérault SC. Kaci, also a midfielder, is back at Lyon following three seasons with Paris, for whom she started the Berlin final. Completing the quartet is 19-year-old Germany forward Pauline Bremer from Potsdam, who starred in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup success.
Anja Mittag:
FC Rosengård to Paris Saint-Germain
Prior to the Boquete deal, the big summer transfer had been Mittag's switch to Paris after a spell in Sweden which revived her career. The sixth German player at Paris, and just two goals from overhauling Conny Pohlers's record of 48 UEFA women's club competition strikes, attacker Mittag already has two European titles with Potsdam and was top scorer in the Swedish league twice in three full campaigns.