Airbnb and WSL Football partner

WSL Football

04/06/2026

image: TM133_AirBNB App Phone Screen_16x9

Airbnb and WSL Football partner to launch £1 million fund to help players fund short term accommodation during the transfer window

With the summer transfer window just weeks away, Airbnb will support players with moves to the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Super League 2 clubs through a new multi-year partnership with WSL Football as its official accommodation and unique experiences partner.

Relocation is one of the most challenging, yet least visible pressures in professional football. A sample of players* demonstrated that players in some cases spent up to £1000 to cover costs associated with accommodation. To support players through the transition and help them find a home on new ground, today, Airbnb and WSL Football are announcing a £1 million Player Accommodation Fund, available to players across every transfer window over three years, providing short-term accommodation when they need it most.

According to a sample of players* who expressed their views on this topic, it was highlighted that relocation is the most challenging part of the transfer window. They added that their daily life and routines are most disrupted when moving clubs, with seven or fewer days to move. Eligible players will be able to access the fund directly through WSL Football during transfer windows, giving them a home as they relocate between clubs and settle into new teams, new cities and new communities.

Support during transfer moves differs across the game, with Airbnb and WSL Football committed to changing that with the offer of a consistent baseline through accommodation, so that regardless of which club a player joins, they have what they need to settle and perform. Encouragingly, relocation support is an area clubs are actively investing in.

As interest in the women’s game continues to rise, with the Barclays WSL witnessing attendance grow by 31% since 2022/23 seasons up until now, increasing further to 65% for the Barclays WSL2**, and Airbnb data showing an increase in bookings over 15% YOY for stays over the last weekend fixtures for the 2025/26 season***.

“One

of

the

major

issues

when

moving

between

clubs

is

finding

suitable

accommodation

during

the

transition

period.

During

one

of

my

moves,

I

had

to

initially

stay

with

the

manager

until

I

was

able

to

secure

permanent

accommodation,

because

at

that

time,

players

were

often

not

paid

enough

to

comfortably

rent

suitable

housing

immediately.

As

a

result,

we

frequently

relied

on

informal

arrangements,

such

as

staying

with

friends,

teammates,

or

club

staff.

In

my

own

experience,

I

also

had

periods

where

I

was

effectively

living

out

of

a

suitcase,

which

meant

I

had

to

pay

for

storage

for

my

belongings.

An

arrangement

that

was

far

from

ideal

and

added

unnecessary

stress.

This

is

where

initiatives

like

the

Airbnb

Player

Accommodation

Fund

can

make

a

real

difference.

By

providing

safe,

short-term

accommodation

options,

players

are

able

to

settle

more

quickly

and

focus

on

their

performance

on

the

pitch,

rather

than

off-field

logistical

challenges.”

Former England international Fara Williams

“The

transfer

window

is

a

huge

moment

in

a

player's

life

that

can

cause

disruption.

The

Player

Accommodation

Fund

is

our

practical

commitment

to

helping

with

some

of

the

associated

costs.

This

partnership

goes

beyond

the

transfer

window

-

we

want

to

elevate

the

women's

game,

and

celebrate

the

fans

that

come

together

around

a

shared

passion.

BWSL

and

BWSL2

fans

regularly

make

weekends

of

away

fixtures,

travelling

to

new

cities

to

follow

their

teams,

and

helping

people

feel

at

home

somewhere

new

is

what

Airbnb

does

best.

We’re

excited

to

be

part

of

the

women's

football

movement

and

support

the

game,

fans,

and

community

on

and

off

the

pitch."

Lisa Marcais, General Manager for Northern Europe and MEA at Airbnb

“We

aim

to

put

the

players

and

fans

at

the

heart

of

everything

we

do

and

the

partnership

with

Airbnb

showcases

this.

Building

an

away

fan

culture

is

integral

to

the

growth

of

the

game

and

Airbnb

want

to

support

our

clubs

and

fans

with

this,

from

accommodation

through

to

experiences.

“And

as

the

transfer

market

continues

to

evolve,

we

also

want

to

support

players

and

clubs

by

removing

a

potential

area

of

friction

when

players

find

themselves

in

new

locations

for

the

first

time.

With

two

more

clubs

in

the

BWSL

for

the

2026/27

season,

we

expect

to

see

even

more

movement

this

summer.”

Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer, WSL Football

Together, the partnership aims to make it easier for players to settle into new clubs and for supporters to stay connected to their teams wherever they play. The initiative builds on Airbnb’s growing commitment to women’s football globally, including its role as Official Supporter of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ , extending that support from the international stage to the day-to-day realities of local players.

Airbnb has a long track record of economically empowering communities. As part of its Worldwide Olympic Partnership, Airbnb launched the Airbnb Athlete Travel Grant, supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This program offered up to 500 athletes a year $2,000 USD in Airbnb promotional credit to use for training, qualification, and other travel accommodations for eight years, totaling $8 million in direct support across the life of the partnership.

*Based on an anonymous survey of WSL Football players, conducted between 28 April and 8 May 2026 - 14 respondents.

**According to official WSL Football data.

***Based on Airbnb internal UK search data comparing bookings made between 25 July – 2 August 2025 (following the announcement of the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League fixtures), for check-in between 24–26 April 2026 (the last fixtures weekend of the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League) in destinations hosting final fixtures, against equivalent time periods in the 2024/25.