Manchester United Women kick off their new Women's Super League season on Friday against a transformed London City side, marking the official start of the Eva Olid era. The club, which finished fourth in the final 2025 table with 40 points from 22 games, parted ways with long-time manager Marc Skinner over the summer and has since taken a distinct direction in the transfer market, as reported by The Athletic.
Olid, 40, arrives after a successful spell with Scottish side Heart of Midlothian, tasked with guiding a squad that reached the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut appearance last season but failed to qualify for this year's edition. The team's recent form of LDDLW and a final standing 15 points behind champions Manchester City W highlights the challenge ahead. Fans can track the team's progress on our standings page throughout the campaign.
What does the new manager bring?
Eva Olid represents a fresh start for Manchester United Women after five years under Marc Skinner. Her appointment signals a clear break, with the club hoping her philosophy can unlock greater consistency. The squad she inherits scored 38 goals and conceded 22 last season, resulting in a solid +16 goal difference, but bridging the gap to the top three remains the primary objective.
Olid's immediate focus will be integrating new ideas and maximizing the potential of players like defender Andrea Medina. The 22-year-old left back, by trade and preference, is known for being especially powerful and explosive in transition. The coaching staff is keenly interested in getting Medina more involved in the attack, seeing her as a key outlet.
How is the squad shaping up?
Manchester United's approach to the summer transfer window has differed from many of their rivals. While London City made headline signings like Alexia Putellas, Mary Earps, Mapi Leon, and Kadidiatou Diani, United's business has been more measured. However, activity is expected before the deadline, with a move for Spirit defender Rebeca Bernal reportedly nearing completion according to The Athletic.
This strategic shift comes after a season where the team recorded 11 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses. Building a squad capable of sustaining a challenge on multiple fronts is essential, and the club's squad page details the current personnel available to Olid. The need for depth is underscored by pundit Charlotte Harpur's prediction that even Manchester City's squad is too thin to compete for both the WSL and Champions League titles.
What is the wider WSL landscape?
The league returns with Manchester City as defending champions, having ended Chelsea's near-decade reign. City reinforced by re-signing three-time Golden Boot winner Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw. The competition promises to be fierce, with predictions from The Athletic's reporters suggesting Arsenal may go further in Europe but finish below City and Chelsea domestically, while Tottenham Hotspur is tipped to finally beat a top-three side.
A potential upset could come from a team outside the traditional 'big four', with London City or Brighton mentioned as candidates to reach a final. As club co-owner Clara Wu Tsai noted, "The arena alone isn’t enough," emphasizing that infrastructure must be matched by on-field ambition. The full fixture list for this new era is available on our fixtures page.
Manchester United Women begin their 2026-27 WSL campaign away to London City on Friday at 2 p.m. ET.
