Manchester City's frantic efforts to bolster their attacking midfield options before the Women's Super League transfer window slammed shut ended largely in disappointment, with the reigning champions unable to secure a replacement for the injured Vivianne Miedema.
According to reporting from the Guardian, City lodged a bid worth more than £500,000 for Atlético Madrid's Spanish international Fiamma Benítez, but the Spanish club firmly rejected the offer. Atlético regard the 22-year-old as a crucial part of their squad and a future star for the Spanish national team, and were unwilling to sanction her departure. Benítez has an impressive pedigree at youth and senior level, having been part of the Spain squad that won the Under-19 European Championship and the Under-20 World Cup in 2022, before going on to lift the 2024 Women's Nations League with the senior side.
With that avenue closed, City turned their attention to Everton's Ornella Vignola, another Spanish international capable of operating in central midfield or out wide. A proposed fee of around £400,000 was also knocked back by the Merseyside club, who felt there was insufficient time remaining in the window to bring in a replacement of similar quality. Vignola's significance to Scott Phelan's Everton side was also cited as a factor in the club's refusal to sell.
City were also reported to have made an approach for Paris Saint-Germain's Nigerian midfielder Jennifer Echegini, though sources close to the situation indicated the French club were never open to a sale. PSG had already agreed to part with French defender Élisa De Almeida, who is set to join Arsenal for a fee in excess of £500,000, and were reluctant to lose a second important player on the same day.
The scramble for reinforcements came after City revealed that Miedema, their influential No 10, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury that could rule her out for the remainder of 2026. The Dutch forward's absence leaves a significant gap in Andrée Jeglertz's attacking setup as the club prepares to defend their WSL title.
Despite the failed pursuits, City did manage to complete one piece of late business, bringing in England goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse on loan from NWSL side Orlando Pride until the end of January. The move adds valuable depth between the posts following Khiara Keating's free transfer to Liverpool earlier in the summer.
Despite the deadline-day setbacks, City's overall transfer window was viewed as broadly successful. The club's most significant piece of business came earlier in the summer, when they secured the signature of Khadija Shaw on a new long-term deal after the Jamaican striker claimed the WSL Golden Boot last season.
Jeglertz's side will now have to navigate the opening weeks of their title defence without a like-for-like replacement for Miedema. City begin their campaign at home against newly promoted Birmingham City on Sunday, a fixture that will offer an early indication of how the champions plan to adapt their attacking approach in the Dutch playmaker's absence.
Attention across the WSL's leading clubs will also turn to Europe on Friday, when Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal discover their opponents in the Women's Champions League league phase draw, adding further intrigue to what promises to be a demanding season on multiple fronts for City.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.