Club: Birmingham City
Position: Midfielder
Price: £7.0m
Last Season Points Tally: 148 (Fifth highest overall score, third highest MID)
After a remarkable 2025-26 campaign, Lily Crosthwaite will get her first crack at the Barclays Women’s Super League this season.
The 24-year-old Birmingham City winger was the driving force behind the team’s promotion as champions last term.
Crosthwaite was a constant threat in the final third after signing from Durham, notching eight goals and laying on six assists for her team-mates. Two of those goals were stoppage-time winners, against Sheffield United in the 91st minute and Sunderland in the 93rd.
Only Ashleigh Weerden, with 17 this season, has ever registered more goal contributions in a second-tier season than Crosthwaite’s 14.
The Blues star also created an average of 2.3 chances per match in the second tier – a number only bettered by Emily Syme (2.9) and Weerden (2.8) last season – and averaged 2.4 successful dribbles per 90 last season, a figure only topped by three players.
That haul of goal contributions, in addition to her all-round dynamic play, was enough for her to earn the BWSL2 Player of the Season award. Naturally, Crosthwaite also cleaned up at the Blues’ end-of-year awards, winning Players’ Player of the Year, Supporter’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, as well as Goal of the Year.
From her spot on the right flank, Crosthwaite will hope to be the team’s thrust on their to the expanded top flight after a four-year absence. But how will she fare?
From a fantasy football perspective, that jump up in quality may make some players of the game pause before selecting Crosthwaite. Even given last season her points haul of 148 would put the 24-year-old third among midfielders in the game and fifth overall.
Against juggernauts such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, having the same sort of impact on matches will be a challenge. Still, in an interview with Sky Sports’ Pitch to Pod after securing promotion, the Blues star said the prospect of facing some legends of the game was exciting rather than daunting.
“It’s so exciting to be playing against some idols,” she said. “Growing up and looking at these people, it’s going to be exciting to be around that.”
Crosthwaite clearly comes into the campaign confident after her efforts in 2025-26 and will be part of a Blues team that has invested this summer.
The experienced duo of Millie Turner and Lisa Naalsund have both arrived from Manchester United to add some bite at the back and in midfield. City have also landed defender Jade Rastocle from Montpellier, as well as goalkeepers Katie Startup and Sophie Baggaley.
More will be required in the final third too for the Blues, but a more robust defensive base will give their flair players more opportunities to thrive. Crosthwaite could be given more attacking freedom as such.
Birmingham’s return to the BWSL will not be plain sailing, especially at the start; their first two away fixtures are against Manchester City and Chelsea. However, head coach Amy Merricks will be hopeful the team can find some early rhythm on home soil against Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at St Andrew’s.
For Crosthwaite, those early away fixtures will offer a glimpse into just how well she will fare against the biggest sides in the division. Back in B9, Birmingham should be on the front foot, giving her a chance to carry on the momentum built up last season.
And given she’s yet to make an international appearance, could a Lionesses call-up represent another incentive for Crosthwaite to raise her game?
“Who knows?” she told Sky Sports. “We can hope. Playing internationally is a thing that every player wants to do; it’s an honour to get that opportunity.”
If she thrives on one new stage this season, another could beckon.
