Liverpool have confirmed the departure of midfielder Sofie Lundgaard, who has sealed a permanent switch to German side Eintracht Frankfurt for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old Dane arrived on Merseyside in January 2023, but her time at Liverpool was frequently disrupted by injury setbacks. Across three and a half seasons, Lundgaard managed 42 appearances for the club, with an anterior cruciate ligament tear and a fractured ankle among the fitness issues that hampered her ability to establish a consistent run in the side, particularly in the last couple of campaigns.
Her move to Frankfurt sees her join the Frauen-Bundesliga, one of Europe's most competitive women's leagues. Prior to her stint in England, Lundgaard built her reputation in Denmark with Fortuna Hjorring, where she developed into a player capable of attracting interest from clubs across the continent. Liverpool's decision to sign her in 2023 reflected that promise, though persistent physical setbacks meant she was rarely able to deliver on it consistently in a red shirt.
For Frankfurt, the acquisition represents an opportunity to add experienced midfield depth as they continue to compete at the top end of German women's football. The financial terms of the deal have not been made public by either club.
Elsewhere in the Women's Super League, Birmingham City have seen an approach for Sevilla winger Fatou Kanteh turned down. According to sources close to the negotiations, the Blues tabled an offer in the region of 100,000 euros, equivalent to roughly £85,000, for the Gambian international. However, Sevilla are understood to hold a significantly higher valuation of the 29-year-old and have no intention of letting her leave this window.
It is not expected that Birmingham will return with an improved offer for Kanteh, whose entire senior career to date has been spent in Spain's Liga F. She has represented several clubs in the division, including Villarreal, Huelva and Logrono, before settling at Sevilla, where she has become a reliable attacking presence.
Kanteh's numbers at Sevilla underline her value to the club: she has netted 12 goals in 63 appearances, a return that has clearly convinced the Spanish side she is worth retaining rather than cashing in on for a fee well below their expectations.
The rejected bid highlights the growing financial gap and differing valuations that can arise when WSL clubs look to strengthen their squads with players from abroad, particularly those who have proven themselves as consistent performers in leagues like Liga F. Birmingham's pursuit of Kanteh appears to have stalled for now, with the club unlikely to push further given Sevilla's firm stance on her price.
Both stories illustrate the increasingly active nature of the women's football transfer market, where clubs across Europe are competing not only for emerging talent but also for established performers who can make an immediate impact. While Liverpool's departure of Lundgaard closes a chapter defined largely by injury misfortune, her move to Frankfurt offers a fresh start in a new league. Meanwhile, Birmingham's interest in Kanteh, even if unsuccessful for now, signals the club's ambitions to bolster their attacking options as they look to strengthen their position in the WSL.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.