Women’s Super League: Why Sweden is supplying so many players to the WSL

In January, nine Swedish players joined English clubs, seven of whom moved to top-flight teams in the WSL and two to clubs in WSL 2.

Most of them came from Damalsvenskan, which was founded in 1988 and represents the top level of women’s professional football in Sweden. The season runs from March to November, meaning WSL teams can target players during the off-season, when many of them are free agents.

Damallsvenskan is one of the leading leagues in the world. It has 14 clubs and has historically focused on technical development, often serving as a major competition for nurturing international talent.

Four players were signed from last season’s title winners Hacken, two from Hammarby and one from Rosengård.

However, signed players must show proven quality.

“There are significant restrictions on which players WSL clubs can sign as they have to meet the Governing Body (GBE) approval criteria as foreign players,” explained Emma Sanders, BBC Sport’s women’s football news correspondent. “This is to secure work permits in the UK.

“The criteria covers things such as Champions League experience, international matches and the quality of the league in which the selling club plays.

“Scandinavian players often meet the criteria more easily.”