Ahead of Barclays Women’s Super League fixture release day on Friday 25 July, we’re taking a look at each of West Ham United women’s team’s opponents for 2025/26. Today we’re analysing… Manchester City.
2024/25 campaign
2024/25 was a campaign of change for Manchester City, as they parted ways with then head coach Gareth Taylor just five days before their Subway® Women’s League Cup final with Chelsea in March.
Taylor’s side sat fourth in the Barclays Women’s Super League standings prior to his departure. The Citizens made a bright start to last season, losing just one of their opening 15 matches across all competitions - which included a UEFA Women’s Champions League victory over Barcelona.
But the Spanish outfit clinched a victory over City before the Christmas break, which followed a shock 2-1 loss to Everton, and further defeats to local rivals Manchester United and Arsenal after the turn of the year arrived before Taylor was relieved of his duties.
So, it was interim boss Nick Cushing who took charge in the dugout at Pride Park Stadium against the Blues in the first showpiece of the season. He saw his side fall behind early on but Aoba Fujino levelled proceedings in the 66th minute. However, a Yui Hasegawa own-goal 13 minutes from time handed Chelsea the trophy.
Battling against the west London outfit became a theme in the second half of the 2024/25 season for Manchester City, as their Women’s League Cup clash was the first of four consecutive matches against Sonia Bompastor’s side.
Following a 2-0 first-leg victory in their Women’s Champions League quarter-final, City fell to a home 2-1 defeat in the WSL. Then, in shock circumstances, Chelsea overturned their deficit in the Women’s Champions League, scoring three first-half goals at Stamford Bridge to edge their way into the semi-finals.
City would later go on to lose to Manchester United in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi-finals before going unbeaten in their last five league matches. But dropped points meant they missed out on a Women’s Champions League spot by just a point, with the Red Devils pipping them into third.
Swedish head coach Andrée Jeglertz was appointed as Taylor’s successor earlier this month, and will hope to bring Women’s Champions League football back to the blue half of Manchester.
Transfer business so far
So far, three new faces have arrived at the Joie Stadium ahead of next season.
First through the door was Canada international Jade Rose, with the 22-year-old bolstering Jeglertz’s defensive options.
Arriving from Young Boys, the next addition was Iman Beney - an 18-year-old Switzerland international - before Sydney Lohmann signed from Bayern Munich, bringing an end to a nine-year stay in her native Germany.
Meanwhile, midfielder Jill Roord joined FC Twente as Chloe Kelly and Laia Aleixandri departed following the expiration of their contracts.
One to watch: Kerolin
January addition Kerolin made a strong impression during her first half-a-season in the Barclays Women’s Super League, and she will be determined to make her mark when she gets a full campaign in England’s top flight.
The forward, a Brazil international - who signed from National Women’s Soccer League club North Carolina Courage - scored three goals in eleven WSL appearances (seven starts) last term.
After netting against champions Chelsea, Kerolin bagged a brace in a 5-2 victory against Crystal Palace in May. She also found the net against Leicester City in the Women’s FA Cup.
Played for both: Yui Hasegawa
Hasegawa was an integral part of the 2021/22 West Ham squad that soared to a sixth-place finish in the WSL standings - helping the Hammers record their highest-ever finish and points tally (27) since joining England’s top flight in 2018, while also reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup.
The Japan international bade farewell to east London in the summer of 2022 to join Manchester City and the midfielder has been ever present in sky blue since her move up north.
The 28-year-old has racked up 95 appearances in all competitions for the Citizens.
Memorable meeting: Manchester City 0-2 West Ham, 2021/22
West Ham United women’s team recorded their first victory over Manchester City in October 2021, heading back down south with a 2-0 success at Joie Stadium.
A stooping first-half header from Dagný Brynjarsdóttir - her first goal for the Club - put the Hammers ahead before Hasegawa’s clipped finish from distance wrapped up the three points in style.
