Sunderland's summer transfer activity was the talk of the town during the recent window - and for good reason. The Black Cats added an entirely new starting XI to the squad which secured a return to the top flight via the Championship play-offs last season and have hit the ground running after their nine-year Premier League hiatus. Sunderland beat rivals to a number of signings, including the 30 million capture of Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, who was high on Leeds United's list of midfield targets.
Aston Villa will be aiming for a smoother Women's Super League season, having spent much of the 2024-25 campaign flirting with relegation. There were strong signs, however, that the club had put the problems of Robert de Pauw's tenure behind them with a comfortable sixth-place finish. An eye-catching final run saw them unbeaten in five games, scoring 16 in the process, including five against Arsenal.
