Man Utd close in on World Cup winner with phase one complete; West Ham sign Japan forward – Women’s Transfer News

Spain midfielder Irene Guerrero and former Man Utd player Vilde Boe Risa

Man Utd could swap Irene Guerrero in for the departing Vilde Boe Risa

Manchester United Women seem to have secured the signing of Irene Guerrero from Atletico Madrid, while West Ham are welcoming a new forward and a former Leicester defender is leaving the WSL altogether – all in Tuesday’s update of Women’s Transfer News.

SPANISH STAR LINKED WITH MAN UTD

Irene Guerrero could be about to become a Manchester United player after reports suggested she would be heading in the opposite direction to Vilde Boe Risa.

Man Utd have announced that Boe Risa has joined Atletico Madrid, which comes after claims circulating on social media – and soon after, by Spanish reporter Sandra Riquelme – that Guerrero would be arriving in the WSL in return.

Guerrero, 26, was a member of the Spain squad that recently won the Women’s World Cup. She is now in line to come to England for the first time after previously only playing in Spain for Real Betis, Levante and, since last year, Atletico.

Like Boe Risa, Guerrero operates as a midfielder, which would make the deal a like-for-like swap. Atletico have also prepared by signing Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic from Barcelona recently.

The transfer window is actually already closed in Spain, but the sources relaying the news have confirmed everything was registered in time and just hasn’t been announced yet.

Now, the Boe Risa part of the potential swap has been confirmed, which may imply an announcement should be due for Man Utd and Guerrero, as long as the original reveals were accurate.

According to Manchester World reporter Graham Falk, who is an authority on women’s transfers, there is reason to believe the accuracy of the Guerrero claims, even if he has not been able to verify them himself.

Boe Risa is not the only player to have left Man Utd in recent hours, since forward Adriana Leon left for Aston Villa on Monday evening.

The Canada international only ever got to play nine times for Man Utd after joining them from West Ham and is now back in claret-and-blue colours with the third WSL club of her career, with whom she has signed a two-year contract.

Carla Ward said of the winger’s arrival at Aston Villa: “Adriana is someone we’ve monitored over the last 18 months and is someone who has displayed great pedigree in the Barclays WSL.

“She can play off both sides and will add another dimension to our evolving group.

“We’re delighted she’s committed her future to us and we’re all looking forward to working with her.”

WEST HAM SIGN RIKO UEKI

Japanese forward Riko Ueki has completed a move to West Ham from Tokyo Verdy Beleza.

The transfer is subject to the 24-year-old being granted a work permit, since she has spent her entire career until now playing in her native country.

A member of the Japan squad from the World Cup – who even scored against eventual champions Spain – Ueki told her new club’s media channels: “West Ham United is a team steeped in history and I’m really happy to be to be signing for such a great Club.

“When I made the decision to join the Club, I felt I needed to test myself in Europe. I think I will be able to improve as a footballer here and in doing so, do my best for the team as well.

“I have been in contact with Honoka [Hayashi] and Risa [Shimizu], and they were both really happy, encouraging and supportive for this move.

“I’m now looking forward to meeting my other teammates and getting started in Claret and Blue.”

The West Ham manager, Rehanne Skinner, added: “Riko is a talented Japanese centre-forward who has had a successful summer with her country at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, being pivotal in her team’s progress throughout the tournament.

“Riko’s biggest assets from a skillset perspective are the timing of her movement and understanding of the game to try and create goalscoring opportunities.

“Riko has a variety of goalscoring skills, is very energetic and enthusiastic, and will help us to be more effective with our defensive set-up from the front.

“She will form a fantastic part of the forward line within our team and I’m really excited to be working with her moving forwards.”

PLUMPTRE LEAVING WSL AFTER LEICESTER EXIT

Ashleigh Plumptre has confirmed she is leaving the WSL behind after her departure from hometown club Leicester City.

Although born in England, Plumptre plays for Nigeria at international level and represented them at the World Cup. She is now available to change clubs on a free transfer after her Leicester contract expired.

It appears her performances on the world stage have caught the attention of a club overseas, since she has confirmed her next move will take her abroad, to a club with a female head coach.

“I cannot reveal the team yet because it has not been announced. The team I’m going to is the same thing I kind of just spoke about in terms of my reason for playing for Nigeria,” she told Eagles Tracker.

“I wasn’t interested in the team initially. When my dad brought it up to me I was like, ‘no, I don’t have interest in going genuinely’. And then I had a call with the coach and we spoke about the things I just said.

“We spoke about more than football, the things that we want to do in football, the impact I want to have, and the connections that I want to make. Where I’m going completely aligns with who I am. It will be difficult but I’m excited.

“I am actually going abroad. I guess some people don’t think that because there’s been a lot of rumours.

“Making the trip to play abroad again, be away from family is obviously a big thing but I have a lot of fire in my belly about what I want to do with the people that I believe in like my coaches.

“I love her, I think she’s incredible and I can’t wait to play for her and meet my teammates, who I have never met before.”

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