Latest news from QueenBallers

• Arsenal Women officially signed Olivia Smith, a 20‑year‑old Canada international forward, on a long-term contract .
• There had been speculation about the transfer for some time. It is a record sum in women's football so far—one million british pounds.
• Smith is the latest in a series of summer signings, following teammate Chloe Kelly and Taylor Hinds. Smith joins a strengthened group ahead of a historic season where Arsenal Women will play all 11 WSL home games at Emirates Stadium.

Full story is here.

• As Sweden prepare for their Euro 2025 quarter-final against England, players and coaches are mentally bracing for the possibility of a penalty shootout. Left-back Jonna Andersson and captain Kosovare Asllani both admit nobody truly enjoys penalties – but being ready is part of the job. Andersson and Asllani were among the four Swedish players who missed penalties in the 2021 Olympic final - Sweden lost to Canada and took silver medal.
• Head coach Peter Gerhardsson recalled being “more nervous than ever” when taking a penalty himself back in 1984, playing for Hammarby in a Swedish Cup semifinal. Though he scored, he said he nearly collapsed from nerves walking up to the spot.

Read the full story on TV4.

On Wednesday, we learned that Italy is the first semifinalist of Euro 2025. Today, Thursday, we will find out who will be its semifinal opponent. The choices are England, the defending champions from 2022, or Sweden, who won Group C and have conceded only one goal so far. Choosing just one of these two great teams full of stars is really difficult.

Sweden vs. England

• 17 July
• 21:00 (Central European time)
• Zurich

Sweden - Filippa Angeldahl

The scorer of Sweden's first goal in this championship and midfielder for Real Madrid. Although she is still only 28, Angeldahl is one of the most successful players in the Swedish team. She started playing soccer thanks to the father of her best friend and national team teammate Nathalie Björn, who founded a soccer club in Uppsala for them. Together, they won a silver Olympic medal and a bronze medal at the World Cup. Angeldahl is not the only one who will give her all on the field to add gold to this collection.

England - Ella Toone

Two goals and two assists from Tooney make her the best English player of the tournament so far. The scorer of one of the two goals in the final of the last Euro tournament shone with goals against the Netherlands and Wales, and also assisted her best friend Alessia Russo with a goal. She was missing from the starting line-up for the first match against France, but her skills have already shown coach Wiegman that this was a mistake.

• Italy captain Cristiana Girelli scored both goals in a dramatic 2–1 win over Norway, including a late 90th-minute header, sealing their place in the semi-finals—their first since 1997.
• Norway’s captain Ada Hegerberg missed a penalty but equalised in the 66th minute with a composed finish, temporarily shifting momentum.
• For a long time, it looked like extra time was on the cards, but a goal in the 90th minute sent Italy through to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of Thursday's match between England and Sweden.

• Bruna Vilamala has officially departed Barça, transferring to Mexico's Club América on a two‑year deal.
• A top academy talent, Vilamala debuted for Barça’s first team at 17, scored 26 goals in 72 appearances, and spent 2024–25 on loan with Brighton (13 apps, interrupted by injuries). Her early impact included 12 goals in 15 games during the 2020–21 treble season.
• At América, she joins former Barça teammates Sandra Paños and Irene Guerrero.
• Martina Fernández, 20‑year‑old Spanish defender, have mutually agreed to extend her Barça contract to June 2026 and send her on loan to Everton for the next WSL season.

Learn more here about Bruna and here about Martina's loan. 

FC Bayern Women will have to manage the start of 25/26 season without their vice-captain Pernille Harder The Danish forward sustained a left hamstring injury during Denmark’s 3-2 loss to Poland at Euro 2025. The 32-year-old was forced to leave the pitch at half time  and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.