One nation wonders
Many of the world’s best players continue to converge on England to play their club football in both the BWSL and BWSL2.
Some are following a well-trodden path by those who paved the way before them, while others are blazing a trail and opening the door for their compatriots.
In cases where players are their country’s only representative playing in the BWSL, like those below, they’re changing the game, making a difference and pioneering… attracting new audiences to domestic games in this country in the process.
Jelena Cankovic (Serbia), Brighton & Hove Albion
After joining Chelsea in the 2022-23 season, the midfielder played 38 games in all competitions across two seasons. Following her spell with the west London side, she joined Brighton in 2024/25 and has played 40 games and counting.
This season, she’s played 14 times in the league alone, clocking 1,326 minutes.
The Serbian is her country’s sole representative in the BWSL, and she has been an active player for her country for over a decade.
With 49 games at senior level, she has scored six times and been a pivotal figure for the Crvene vile (Red Fairies).
Kerolin (Brazil), Manchester City
Manchester City signed striker Kerolin in January 2025 on a free transfer from North Carolina Courage, for whom she was a multiple NWSL-cup winner.
She took little time settling into her new surroundings, scoring four goals and adding two assists before the end of her first season. She started the 2025-26 campaign in similar fashion, boasting ten goal involvements in her first nine games, and winning the Player of the Month award for January.
The versatile forward is the only player currently representing Brazil in the BWSL, and after having played a key role in City’s title charge this season she will no doubt be integral in the latter stages of the campaign.
Kerolin earned her first cap for her country in October 2018, and the Brazilian has gone on to play for her country 59 times. Since then she has netted 15 times, with 25 goal involvements overall.
Ines Belloumou (Algeria), West Ham United
After signing for West Ham from Bayern Munich, the defender joined Malmo on loan until the end of the 2024-25 season where she featured 14 times and scored once. This season she has played 15 games across all competitions for the Hammers.
Though originally playing in the youth team for France, Belloumou switched her allegiances to Algeria in 2025.
In 2025, she won the Algerian Player of the Year award following her performances at the Africa Cup of Nations. During the recent international break, she started for Algeria in a game against South Africa.
Rosella Ayane (Morocco), Leicester City
Ayane is a BWSL veteran. At 30 years old, she has played for a handful of sides at the highest level in this country and been a consistent force wherever she’s been.
Having played for Chelsea at the start of her career, where she won the BWSL and FA Cup, she then made the switch to Everton before joining Bristol City in the 2018-19 season. She joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, where she featured in over 100 games.
Currently, she plays for Leicester City and recently surpassed her 150th game in England.
In 2021 she made her debut for Morocco and has since played 13 games for the African side. In 2022, she famously went viral after scoring the winning goal in a penalty shoot out, and forgetting the significance of her spot-kick with a subdued celebration.
Hlin Eiriksdottir (Iceland), Leicester City
The Icelandic winger joined Leicester City in 2024-25, and played 21 games before joining Fiorentina on loan in January.
She was signed by the Foxes after finishing as Kristianstads DFF’s top scorer in 2024, scoring a remarkable 15 goals in 25 games.
Internationally, she debuted for Iceland’s WU17 side against Wales in 2015 and has since featured 55 times for her national side after debuting for the senior team in 2018.
During Euro 2025, Eiriksdottir played twice for Iceland, starting once and scoring during an 18-minute cameo against Norway.
Zara Kramzar (Slovenia), Everton
Aged just 20 years old, the Slovenia international joined Everton in February having previously played at Como and Roma in Italy. She has since played six games for the Merseysiders across the BWSL and in the FA Cup.
During her short spell in England, she has scored once and added one assist. Having already played 67 games for three teams at club level, she is still in the early stages of her career and has plenty to offer for club and country.
She made her senior debut for Slovenia in 2023 and has since played 23 games, scoring eight goals. More recently, she played 88 minutes as her side beat Austria, with her strike the only one in the game.
Word credit: Khya Gott
