Crystal Palace have continued their busy summer transfer activity by securing the signature of Tottenham Hotspur defender Molly Bartrip, with the newly promoted Women's Super League side agreeing a three-year contract with the 30-year-old for an undisclosed fee.
Bartrip's move to south London brings her back together with former Tottenham captain Bethany England, who has also joined Palace ahead of the upcoming campaign. The pair previously played alongside one another during their time at Spurs and will now aim to help Palace establish themselves following promotion to the top flight.
The defender spent five seasons with Tottenham, amassing more than 100 appearances for the club during that period. Her consistency and leadership qualities saw her named vice-captain in 2023, underlining the trust placed in her by the coaching staff and teammates alike.
Bartrip's importance to Tottenham was further highlighted last season, when she featured in every single match throughout the 2024–25 campaign. That run of form and reliability prompted the north London club to reward her with a new three-year contract extension at the time, though she has now opted to pursue a fresh challenge with Palace instead.
During her spell at Tottenham, Bartrip also played a part in one of the club's most memorable recent achievements, featuring in the squad that reached the Women's FA Cup final for the first time in the club's history back in 2024. Her experience of competing in high-pressure, high-profile fixtures is expected to prove valuable as Palace adjust to life in the WSL.
Bartrip has also represented England at youth level, adding international pedigree to a Palace defence that will need to be well-organised as the club looks to establish itself against more established WSL opposition.
Her arrival forms part of what has already been a productive transfer window for Crystal Palace, who earned their promotion to the WSL after finishing second in the Championship last season. The club have moved quickly to strengthen their squad with players possessing top-flight experience, recognising the step up in quality they will face in the coming campaign.
Alongside Bartrip and England, Palace have also brought in Lexi Lloyd-Smith, who finished as the leading scorer in the second tier last season. Her goal-scoring record in the Championship marks her out as an exciting addition to Palace's attacking options as they prepare for WSL football.
With Bartrip's defensive experience, England's leadership and goal threat, and Lloyd-Smith's proven scoring ability, Palace appear to be assembling a squad capable of competing at a higher level than they have previously experienced. The club's recruitment strategy this summer suggests an ambition to make an immediate impact rather than simply making up the numbers following promotion.
As pre-season progresses, attention will turn to how quickly these new signings can integrate and whether Palace can translate their summer investment into results once the WSL campaign gets underway. For now, though, the club can point to a series of shrewd additions that have bolstered both their defensive and attacking options ahead of a significant season in their history.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.