What Sam Coffey's move to Manchester City means for the WSL
Full Time: A show about women's soccer
The Athletic
4.8 • 756 Ratings
🗓️ 16 January 2026
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Manchester City are six points clear at the top of the English Women's Super League table, but they're not stopping there. What does the blockbuster arrival of U.S. women's national team midfielder Sam Coffey, for $875k from the Portland Thorns, mean for City's title aspirations and the rest of the WSL?
On this episode of Full Time, Producer Theo is joined by The Athletic's Megan Feringa and Charlotte Harpur to get into all the biggest stories from the WSL as the second half of the season gets underway. Is the title race down to two contenders? Why has Chelsea fallen behind? What's going on with Arsenal and their decision to renew the contract of head coach Renee Slegers? How bold is the investment in Manchester United this January? What has been key to the renaissance at Spurs?
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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
GUESTS: Megan Feringa, Charlotte Harpur
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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Referenced on the show:
Manchester City sign USWNT’s Sam Coffey from Portland Thorns for $875k
The WSL’s top-four battle has been split in two
Arsenal leading race for Georgia Stanway as midfielder confirms Bayern Munich summer exit
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers signs new long-term contract
Manchester United Women sign Hanna Lundkvist, Lea Schuller on deals to 2029
Chelsea’s attack is key in the Champions League. Will the handbrake be released?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I remember at the start of the season, like Citi were fed up of Chelsea winning titles. |
| 0:09.5 | They're just like, it has to stop now. |
| 0:12.1 | This is, this can't go on any longer. |
| 0:15.0 | I think the key difference with Citi is, you know, a move away from Gareth Taylor's 433 to a 4-2-3-1s. |
| 0:23.0 | They're not getting over-excited or anything. |
| 0:25.7 | It's just like this, they're just following their script, and it's just simple and easy, and that's it. |
| 0:42.8 | Hello, hello, and welcome back to a very special episode of full-time. |
| 0:44.8 | My name is Theo Lloyd Hughes. |
| 0:51.5 | Producer Theo Lloyd-Lews, I will be your host today as we zoom in on the English Women's Super League. |
| 0:57.7 | Running away at the top of the table is Manchester City. Looking to unseat Chelsea for the first time in six years. The Women's Super League has been dominated by the blue side of West London, |
| 1:03.8 | and now Man City have a chance to take back the title. And what have they done this January |
| 1:08.1 | transfer window? They've only gone and got Sam Coffey, |
| 1:11.7 | US women's national team start in Portland Thorns Midfielder. They're adding her to make this |
| 1:15.7 | title dream, perhaps a reality. And we're going to be getting into all that and the biggest |
| 1:20.9 | stories in the WSL the second half of the season with the athletics, Megan Ferringa and Charlotte |
| 1:25.7 | Harper will be touching on Arsenal, how they have |
| 1:27.9 | been following up or struggling to follow up their Champions League win. And what it means for them to |
| 1:32.9 | renew the contract of head coach, Renee Sleggers. We're getting into Spurs, a sensational first |
| 1:37.6 | after season, and Manchester United balancing a lot on their play. But is their January transfer window |
| 1:42.9 | the best of any club so far? |
| 1:45.5 | So, so much to talk about with Megan and Charlotte. |
| 1:48.1 | Thank you so much for being here on full time. |
... |
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