Departures of Kerr, Mead and Shaw mark end of an era in the Women’s Super League | Tom Garry

Transfer window could include merry-go-round of forwards as division’s top three clubs bid farewell to icons

Saturday’s finale to the Women’s Super League season marks the end of an era, and not only because it is the final time the division will operate with 12 teams before the expansion to 14.

A multitude of players synonymous with their clubs in recent years are all making end-of-contract departures and the forward lines, in particular, of many of the top sides will not look the same again.

Thursday’s confirmation of https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/14/chelsea-sam-kerr-leave-stamford-bridge-at-the-end-of-the-season-wsl">Sam Kerr’s exit from Chelsea, added to Monday’s announcement that https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/11/beth-mead-to-leave-arsenal-women">Beth Mead will leave Arsenal and last week’s news that Khadija “Bunny” Shaw has decided to https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/07/khadija-shaw-leave-manchester-city-contract-ends-chelsea-sign">leave Manchester City, means the division’s top three clubs are saying farewell to forwards who have been modern icons of their clubs and the striker market will enter a fascinating summer.

That trio have scored a combined 316 goals for their clubs and will leave with at least one WSL title under their belts; Kerr has five.