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 United.
2024/25 campaign
Manchester United qualified for the UEFA Women’s Champions League last term, pipping local rivals Manchester City into third place in the Barclays Women’s Super League table by just a point.
Up until the last two games of the season, which saw them lose to Arsenal in the league and Chelsea in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final, Marc Skinner’s side suffered few defeats in 2024/25. Having lost only two games from their first 22 matches across all competitions, the Red Devils were flying - with the only negative coming via a Subway® Women’s League Cup quarter-final loss to the Citizens.
As mentioned, Manchester United made it to the final of the Women’s FA Cup, scoring a combined 13 goals against West Brom and Wolves in their first two matches in the competition, before defeating Sunderland to book another clash with Manchester City.
Skinner’s side clinched a 2-0 away win at their rivals in the semi-finals thanks to first-half strikes from Celin Bizet and Grace Clinton, but Sonia Bompastor’s outfit proved too much for them in the showpiece, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory at Wembley.
Only Chelsea (13) conceded fewer league goals than Manchester United (16) last term, as the Red Devils kept 13 clean sheets in the WSL.
Transfer business so far
As it stands, Manchester United are yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, Aoife Mannion departed upon the expiry of her contract, subsequently joining Newcastle United, as Alyssa Aherne also left the club. Elsewhere, defender Jess Simpson joined Southampton on loan.
One to watch: Celin Bizet
Bizet was a revelation for Manchester United after signing for the club last summer. The forward signed from Tottenham Hotspur, where she spent two seasons, and went on to play every WSL match this term.
The former PSG winger contributed to 14 goals in all competitions in 2024/25 (six goals and eight assists) and was on target against Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final.
Bizet, who also represented Norway at U17 and U19 level, has made 31 senior appearances for her country, scoring seven times.
Played for both: Martha Thomas
Signing from Le Havre AC in the summer of 2019, attacker Martha Thomas joined West Ham United.
The Scotland international spent two seasons at the Hammers, making 33 appearances in all competitions and netting ten times.
In her second campaign in Claret and Blue, the 29-year-old netted a hat-trick against Reading in a 5-0 win at the Madejski Stadium.
It was in the summer of 2021 that Thomas made the move to Manchester United, where she scored eight goals in 53 appearances. She now represents Tottenham Hotspur, having been at the club since 2023.
Memorable meeting: West Ham 3-2 Manchester United, 2019/20
West Ham United women’s team edged a five-goal thriller against Manchester United in December 2019, securing an entertaining 3-2 victory over the Red Devils.
Both teams found the net inside three minutes, with Laura Vetterlein cancelling out Kirsty Hanson’s opener before Katharina Baunach gave the Hammers the lead at the break.
Lauren James looked to have snatched a point with ten minutes to play, but Baunach scored in the 90th minute to spark last-minute scenes for the Irons.
