SheKicks

Julie Blakstad has joined Tottenham Hotspur following the expiration of her contract at Hammarby IF.

The 24-year-old Norway international will wear the number 41 shirt.

In quotes circulated to the media, Blakstad said: “This is such a great club, I’m so excited to start.

“This is a club with ambitions, I know both the players and staff have high ambitions, which I really like. They focus on development, which is really important for me, and I’ve always said I want to play against the best players as often as I can. I can’t wait to meet everyone in the team.”

Tottenham head coach Martin Ho said: “Julie is a modern, dynamic full-back who brings a real attacking edge to her game. She combines pace, technical quality and game intelligence with the ability to consistently impact the game in the final third, while still delivering the defensive intensity and discipline required at the highest level. Julie’s bravery in possession, timing of her forward runs and quality of decision-making mean she will regularly influence decisive moments in advanced areas.

“She was a clear priority for us, and despite strong competition from a number of top clubs in England and across Europe, Julie chose Tottenham Hotspur as the best environment to continue her development. That decision reflects her ambition, belief in our project, and the clarity of our vision.

“We are delighted to welcome a player of her quality, mentality and potential to the club.”

Blakstad’s signing for Tottenham follows the loan move of Chelsea’s Maika Hamano, which was announced on Sunday.

Julie Blakstad: her career so far

Blakstad has played for Ottestad IL and FL Fart in her native Norway before switching to Sweden to join Rosengard, where she scored 17 goals in 35 league games across two full seasons.

She joined Manchester City in January 2022, playing 13 times for them that season as she helped them to win the League Cup. She then switched to BK Hacken on loan in March 2023, joining Hammarby IF permanently in January 2024. Last season she scored 15 goals and assisted six in 26 games.

Internationally, she made her senior debut for Norway in October 2020 against Wales – a match that sealed her country’s place at the 2022 Women’s Euros, a tournament where she scored their first goal. She also featured at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and so far has 31 caps for her country, scoring three goals.

Maika Hamano has joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the season.

In quotes distributed to the media, she said: “Watching the team this season, I really felt they’ve been playing some great football and I thought if I joined this team, I could develop a lot as a player.

“I want to show fans the connection with my team-mates and exciting plays. At the end of the day, football is about winning and I’ll do my best to contribute to the team’s success.”

Tottenham head coach Martin Ho added: “We are pleased to welcome Maika to Tottenham Hotspur. Maika is a technically gifted and intelligent attacking player who brings creativity, movement and composure in the final third. She has experience at the highest level and will add quality and depth to our attacking options.

“This is a good opportunity for Maika to continue her development in a demanding environment, and we are looking forward to working with her for the remainder of the season.”

Maika Hamano: her career so far

The 21-year-old forward started her career at Cerezo Osaka Sakai before joining INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2021, aged 17. She featured in 16 league games as they finished eight points clear at the top of the WE League table.

She made seven appearances, scoring twice, the next season before joining Chelsea in January 2023.

She was immediately loaned to Swedish side Hammarby IF for that season, making 17 league appearances and scoring seven goals in the Damallsvenskan.

She finally made her Barclays Women’s Super League debut in a 3-0 win over Bristol City in December 2023, with her first WSL goal coming against Aston Villa in April 2024.

Hamano signed a contract extension with Chelsea earlier this season.

Internationally, she made her senior debut for Japan in October 2022, and was part of their squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She also helped them to win the SheBelieves Cup in 2025.

Swedish international defender Hanna Wijk has signed for Tottenham Hotspur.

She will officially join from BK Hacken in January, subject to international clearance and work permit.

The 22-year-old has agreed a long-term contract and will wear the number 22 shirt.

In quotes issued to the media, Wijk said: “I’m really happy to be here at Spurs. It feels great to be here, I got goosebumps when I put on the shirt.

“It has always been my dream to move abroad from Sweden and play in this league. I love the league and I watched it a lot from home, so I’m really looking forward to playing here in England, and also for Spurs. The team seems very good. I have watched a lot of games and I like the way they play. I feel like this is a good place for me to be. As a full-back, I like the way the full-backs play here, so I think it’s a perfect fit for me.”

Tottenham head coach Martin Ho said: “Hanna is a modern, athletic full-back who can play on both the right and left side. She brings intensity, intelligence and reliability, with the ability to defend aggressively while also possessing strong technical foundations in possession.

“Her versatility, work rate and understanding of the game give us flexibility and balance in wide areas. Hanna has a strong foundation and clear potential, and we see this as the right environment for her to continue developing her all-round game at the highest level.

“Hanna was in demand across the market, and we are very pleased that she decided Tottenham Hotspur was the right club for the next stage of her career. Her choice speaks to the ambition of the project and the clarity of the pathway we are offering, and we are confident she will grow with us while helping raise the competitive standards of the group.”

Hanna Wijk: her career so far

Following youth spells at Floda BoIF and Lerum IS, Hanna signed for BK Hacken in 2020 at the age of 16, making her first appearance for the first team later that year and helping them to their first-ever Damallsvenskan title.

She made 32 appearances the following season, with five of those coming in the Champions League, scoring twice and registering six assists, and playing a role in their Swedish Cup triumph.

She was named one of Hacken’s vice-captains last season as they won the Damallsvenskan title again, and has now played 107 times for the club.

On the international stage, Wijk represented Sweden across the junior age groups before receiving her first call-up to the senior national squad in September 2022, making her first appearancen in the 8-0 victory over Luxembourg in October 2024.

Tottenham head coach Martin Ho has revealed what new signing Signe Gaupset will bring to the club when she arrives in January.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder will join the club on January 1st, 2026, from Norwegian side SK Brann.

Ho knows Gaupset well, having previously coached her at SK Brann before he arrived at Tottenham in the summer.

What will Signe Gaupset bring to Tottenham?

Tottenham boss Ho revealed in a club statement what Signe Gaupset will bring to the club when she takes to the field.

The deal was recently announced after they agreed a deal in principle with SK Brann earlier this month.

Speaking to the club’s website, Ho said: “She is a terrific person before anything else, and an exceptional footballer whose professionalism, ambition and personality will strengthen our squad.

“Signe offers genuine invention in possession, explosiveness in duels and a top-level ability to shift momentum in 1v1 moments.

“She has the intelligence to connect the game, the athleticism to drive forward with purpose, and the mentality to influence the standards around her. These are qualities that align fully with the identity we’re building and the demands of our style.

“A player with her potential naturally attracts attention, so we’re incredibly proud she chose our project and believes in the direction this team is going. We’re excited for everything she will bring to Tottenham Hotspur Women.”

Ho reiterated his support of the signing in a post on his X account.

He wrote: “A brilliant person and a special talent. Her values, her ambitions and her belief in the project have brought her to the club. She fits who we are and who we want to become. Delighted to welcome her to Tottenham Hotspur.”

How much did Tottenham spend on Gaupset?

Tottenham broke their own transfer record to sign Norway international Gaupset for the January transfer window.

The Athletic have reported that the club paid £378,000 to bring her in on January 1st.

It is the third time that Spurs have broken their transfer record this year, following the signings of Toko Koga and Cathinka Tandberg over the summer.

When could Gaupset make her Tottenham debut?

Gaupset’s arrival on January 1st will come in the middle of the winter break for the WSL.

The first chance for Tottenham fans to see their new signing will be on January 11th, when Spurs host Leicester City.

Which shirt number will Signe Gaupset wear?

Tottenham have already confirmed that Gaupset will wear the No.8 shirt on her arrival at the club.

Videos on social media showed Gaupset being handed her new jersey, which reflects how important of a player Ho and Tottenham will feel the 20-year-old can be.

Why Gaupset is one of the best U21 stars in Europe

Gaupset has been viewed as a rising star of women’s football since she broke through in 2022, scoring a brace for SK Brann in the Norwegian Women’s Cup final.

She was described as a “sensation” by pundits after scoring a last-minute equaliser against Lyon in the Women’s Champions League in 2023-24.

Gaupset was also a breakout star at Euro 2025, scoring a brace in Norway’s dramatic 4-3 win over Iceland.

In 2025, Gaupset scored 15 goals in 26 appearances to lead Brann to the Norwegian title and was named as the club’s Player of the Season.

The Women’s Super League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Brisbane Road ran deep into additional time on Sunday after an extensive period of treatment for Mia Enderby.

The forward appeared to sustain an injury to her neck late on, and it required a lengthy stoppage, meaning that 22 minutes were added on after the clock ticked past the regulation 90.

The BBC have since reported that Enderby was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Reds boss Gareth Taylor had little information on his player’s welfare immediately after the match, telling the media in quotes reported by the club’s official website: “It’s not nice to see. Obviously [she was] stretchered off and I’ve not had an opportunity to speak to the medical department. I think she has gone to hospital but hopefully she is OK.

“At one point I thought she was going to re-enter in terms of getting back up and start to play again but with those types of injuries it’s really crucial we take care of them.”

The 20-year-old has been ever present for Liverpool so far this season and signed a new two-year contract in the summer.

Liverpool will keep fighting, says Gareth Taylor

Tottenham won the match 2-1, meaning Liverpool are still without a win in the league this season, and continue to sit second-bottom of the WSL table. They have a game in hand over bottom-of-the-table West Ham United.

The Reds have picked up two serious injuries recently, with both Sophie Roman Haug and Marie Hobinger suffering ACL injuries ahead of the international break.

“We didn’t have anything from the sidelines today, unfortunately,” Taylor added. “It’s not ideal when you have to play a 21-year-old [centre half] Hannah Silcock up on the right side. We just have to battle through it. The message is clear. We’re working so hard as staff, players and everyone at the club to turn this into a better situation. But it takes a bit of time and a bit of support.

“Unfortunately, as we’ve seen at the moment, we’re getting knocked a bit, but we’ll keep fighting.”

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Martin Ho praised his players after a 3-0 Subway Women’s League Cup win over Birmingham City.

And he said he couldn’t ask for anything more from them after a fine start to the season, which has left them fourth in the Women’s Super League table before the international break – ahead of local rivals Arsenal.

“I think up to this point we’ve done really well – 12 points in the league and five points in the cup. I couldn’t ask for more,” he told the club’s official website.

“The group has given me everything so far and I want to make sure we continue to build on that. We can’t get comfortable or think we can take our foot off the gas. We have six really big games after the break, and we need to go into those games ready to win.”

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ho: It was a really good performance

He was particularly impressed on Sunday with goalscorers Olivia Holdt, who got a brace, and Amanda Nilden.

“Three points, three goals. I’d say it was a dominant performance for large spells. Maybe the last five or ten minutes, we got a little bit scrappy with the ball and gave away a few too many easy chances through our own build-up.

“Apart from that, I thought it was a really good performance. Some good individual performances, but collectively a really positive one off the back of Chelsea.

“The first goal was really good in terms of her instinctiveness in the box – to lift it over the keeper when she comes out. Then, her ability to go around the keeper on the second one. The build-up play to that point was good, really clever – a great through ball for the second goal.

“Amanda’s goal where she cuts inside and puts it in the bottom corner – that gives us a really nice 3–0 win and, more importantly, an opportunity to get closer to progression out of the group.”

Tottenham Hotspur are top of Group E, with five points from their two matches so far.

Tottenham Hotspur’s next match will be in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, 2nd November, when they face Liverpool after the international break.

Their next match in the Subway Women’s League Cup is away to Bristol City, on Sunday, 23rd November.

Tottenham Women have announced that three Women’s Super League (WSL) fixtures will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later this season.

The club has made an excellent start to the season under new head coach Martin Ho.

Their 1-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday was their fourth win in five games, leaving them third in the WSL table.

Spurs are already more than halfway towards matching the 20 points they earned last season, when they finished 11th in the WSL.

Ho replaced Robert Vilahamn as head coach after the latter was sacked at the end of last season.

Which WSL fixtures will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Tottenham have confirmed that three fixtures in the second-half of the WSL season will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The first fixture to take place at their home stadium will be the clash against reigning champions Chelsea on February 8th.

Tottenham will also face Everton on March 15th and Manchester United on April 26th, at the stadium.

All three fixtures are subject to date changes and Tottenham have revealed that a bundle will be offered for fans to attend all three games.

This matches the tally of WSL games which were held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the 2024-25 campaign.

Tottenham played Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea at the stadium last season, falling to a defeat in each of those games.

Ho’s side will be hoping for better fortune at their home stadium during the 2025-26 campaign.

The rest of Tottenham’s home games are currently set to be hosted at Brisbane Road in Leyton.

What’s next for Tottenham?

Tottenham could climb to the top of the Women’s Super League table this weekend, however, their chances would appear slim.

Ho’s side travel to a Chelsea side who are unbeaten in their last 27 league games.

Chelsea dropped points at the weekend for the first time this season with a draw against Manchester United. They are also fresh off the news that Sjoeke Nusken has signed a new contract extension.

Spurs go into the game just one point behind their local rivals, with Manchester City also above them on goal difference.

Tottenham then face a League Cup tie with Birmingham City before the players go away for their first international break since the summer.

Ho’s side return from the international break on November 2nd, when they play a Liverpool side who have failed to score a point so far this season.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the return of Lawrence Shamieh – this time as first team assistant coach.

Shamieh – who spent 2021-22 as Spurs’ women’s lead performance analyst – joins Martin Ho’s coaching staff from Manchester United, where he spent three years as coach analyst and lead performance analyst.

It follows the news last week that Adam Jeffrey had been appointed as first-team coach, joining the club from West Ham United.

“I’m very happy to be back at Tottenham Hotspur,” Shamieh said in a statement. “It was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down, working with a really driven group of staff and players, at a club that is looking to progress in an upwards trajectory.

“I’m looking forward to contributing using the experience I’ve gained over the last few years, and working at a highly ambitious club.”

Lawrence Shamieh’s impeccable understanding of football

Head coach Martin Ho added: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Lawrence as our new assistant coach. From a coaching and tactical perspective, he has an impeccable understanding of the game and a depth of knowledge that will bring real value to our team.

“He is highly regarded and respected across football, which speaks volumes about his ability and the relationships he has built throughout his career. But above all, he’s a good person, genuine, humble, and someone who cares deeply about the players and staff around him. His work ethic is second to none, and I have no doubt he will be a fantastic addition as we continue to build the culture and standards we want at this football club.”

Tottenham Hotspur: their technical staff

The additions to the technical team over the last few weeks replace some recent departures. Bri Campos left the club earlier in September after becoming then-head coach Robert Vilahamn’s assistant in January. She is now working with Sweden’s youth squads.

Vicky Jepson – also part of Vilahamn’s technical team, and a previous interim coach of the club as well as a long-serving member of staff at WSL rivals Liverpool – is now head coach of the USA’s under-20s.

Martin Ho was appointed as Tottenham Hotspur head coach in July, a month after the departure of Vilahamn, who had been in charge for a little over two years.

Tottenham’s next match is on Sunday, 5th October, when they host Brighton and Hove Albion.

They currently sit fourth in the Women’s Super League table – one point ahead of north London neighbours Arsenal.

Ash Neville made her first appearance of the season for Tottenham Hotspur – and helped them to a 2-1 win over Leicester City that lifted them to fourth place in the Women’s Super League table.

The full back had suffered a knock in pre-season and had not played any role in the opening matches of the campaign.

But she came on for the last 25 minutes of the match, replacing Josefine Rybrink, to safely anchor the winning effort.

“It felt great to be back out on the pitch,” she told the club’s television channel. “I know it’s been a while, so I’ve been really looking forward to it.”

Martin Ho’s side have now won three of their four WSL matches so far this season.

Cathinka Tandberg opened the scoring for Spurs at the King Power with Olivia Holdt adding a second.

Sam Tierney pulled one back for Leicester just before half-time, and Neville added that Spurs had expected the tough game they got.

“We knew coming into this game it wasn’t going to be an easy one,” she said. “When the scoreline gets to a one-goal lead, you know you have to work hard. I think the girls worked really hard today to grind it out. It’s a massive three points on the board.”

Ash Neville: We’ve got a big week next week

Referring to the midweek Subway Women’s League Cup match against Aston Villa that went to penalties, Neville reflected: “To get three out of four wins on the board now, to come off a three-game week with a big three points at the end of it, it’s a true credit to how hard the girls have worked this week, so we rest now and then we’ve got a big week next week.”

And speaking about her frustration at not being able to play combined with her pride in her team-mates’ success so far, she said:

“It’s been great. I’ve been on the sidelines, it isn’t ideal. You obviously want to be out there playing, but we’ve had a great start to the season. That’s just going to continue now, I think.”

Tottenham’s next challenge is hosting Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, 5th October, and Neville hopes she will be even more involved in that match.

“It was nice to come on and get those first minutes. Hopefully next week I can get a bit more. We know it’s not going to be an easy game. We don’t want anyone to come to our pitch and think they can take us. We’re looking forward to that game.”

Tottenham Hotspur took a bonus point from their Subway Women’s League Cup match against Aston Villa – and Martin Ho gave a lot of credit to goalkeeper Lize Kop.

With the score at 0-0 after 90 minutes, the competition rules say that a penalty shoot-out decides who gets an extra point to take into the group standings.

And Kop not only stopped two penalties, she had the nerve to step up and take one as well.

“Penalties are the cruellest way of deciding games,” Ho told the club’s official website afterwards. “I don’t envy anyone in those situations – I don’t even enjoy watching them!

“But the players who stepped up showed real courage and personality. It’s a pressured moment, and I’m proud of them. Lize made two brilliant saves and even scored a penalty herself – she’s effectively won us the game.”

The score in the shoot-out was 7-6, with Sarah Mayling, Anna Patten, Jill Baijings, Oceane Deslandes, Lynn Wilms and Lucia Kendall scoring for Villa, and Kop making crucial saves from Miri Taylor and Georgia Mullett.

Indeed, if Taylor had managed to get past Kop with her spot kick, Villa would have won the match, as Spurs’ Lenna Gunning-Williams had the first penalty of the shoot-out saved by Ellie Roebuck.

But the seven team-mates that followed her did not miss: Bethany England, Amanda Nilden, Matilda Vinberg, Eveliina Summanen, Drew Spence, Kop and Toko Koga.

Villa had one less penalty taker to choose from after Noelle Maritz’s late red card reduced them to ten players.

Martin Ho: We need to be more consistent going forward

Reflecting on the match during normal time, Ho described it as “a scrappy game”.

“In the first half, we created some good moments but maybe lacked a cutting edge in the final third,” he said.

“In the second half, we got into some good positions, but the final ball or action was a little off. When we got it right, we found good shooting and crossing positions. We just need to make that more consistent.

“Clean sheets are important – they give you confidence. But we still need to defend the goal better because they had some big moments. Our pressure also needs to be a bit more aggressive and consistent. This performance was the response we expected. The players would’ve felt the City defeat, and hopefully tonight has taken that out of their system so we can now move on to Leicester City.”