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Leicester are poised to sign the experienced full-back Ashleigh Neville from their fellow Women’s Super League club Tottenham, the Guardian understands, after the north London club completed deals for Julie Blakstad and Hanna Wijk.
According to sources, an agreement has been reached for Neville’s move. Tottenham on Monday announced the signing of the Norway international Blakstad on as free transfer, after her contract expired at Hammarby. The 24-year-old former Manchester City player can operate as a winger, wing-back or left-back.
Neville is Tottenham’s longest-serving player, having been with the club for eight and a half years, and has been a core part of their side since promotion to the second tier in 2017. A fans’ favourite, she became in February 2025 the first player to make 100 WSL appearances for Tottenham and was a key part of the side that reached the club’s first Women’s FA Cup final in 2024.
Neville’s switch to Rick Passmoor’s Leicester is expected to bring regular starting opportunities after Tottenham also signed the Sweden full-back Wijk. The 22-year-old Wijk can, like Neville, play at left-back or right-back and Tottenham are evolving their squad. Leicester are understood to be targeting players with more WSL experience, having often had the youngest average age in the division in their starting side this season.
Both clubs have performed above expectations this term, with Leicester ninth, six points clear of the relegation zone, and Tottenham – the WSL’s surprise package – fifth, two points off a European place.
The Spurs head coach, Martin Ho, said of Blakstad: “Julie is a modern, dynamic full-back who brings a real attacking edge to her game. She combines pace, technical quality and game intelligence with the ability to consistently impact the game in the final third, while still delivering the defensive intensity and discipline required at the highest level.
“She was a clear priority for us, and despite strong competition from a number of top clubs in England and across Europe, Julie chose Tottenham Hotspur.”
On Sunday, Tottenham signed the Chelsea forward Maika Hamano on loan for the reminder of the season. The 21-year-old, part of Japan’s squad at the Paris Olympics in 2024, helped Chelsea win the WSL title in each of the past two seasons, including by scoring at Tottenham in a 1-0 win in May 2024 that lifted Chelsea top in their penultimate game.
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of the highly rated 19-year-old Sweden right-back Smilla Holmberg, on an undisclosed-length, long-term contract. Holmberg, part of the Sweden side that reached the quarter-finals of last summer’s Euros and one of the breakthrough young stars of the tournament, makes the move from Hammarby, for whom she made 96 appearances and won the Swedish league title in 2023.
“It’s always been my dream to play for Arsenal,” she told the club’s website. “This is a very special moment for me and my family, but it’s also about joining a club with the highest standards and a strong winning culture.”
