Alexia Putellas joining London City Lionesses was one of the headline moves of the summer. But from a purely sporting angle, Bayern Munich appeared to offer a cleaner fit.
For a team recently knocked out by Barcelona in Europe, adding a two-time Ballon d’Or winner looked like the kind of move that could narrow that gap immediately.
If one club keeps surfacing in these what-if conversations, it is Arsenal. Salma Paralluelo, who moved to OL Lyonnes, looks like the sort of left-sided match-winner Arsenal have craved. Her record in big games and her end product would have added another decisive layer to a side already pushing at the top end of Europe.
There is also a case for Mapi León. Arsenal’s defensive depth has been tested, and León’s quality in a high line and on the ball would have suited a side that wants to dominate territory rather than simply survive pressure.
Other reports have also linked Arsenal with a busy market, which only strengthens the sense that they were operating in exactly this tier of conversation.
Ona Batlle returned to England with Arsenal after three years at Barcelona, but Real Madrid looked like a highly logical alternative. They were without a natural right-back after Sheila García’s exit, and Batlle’s ability to play on either side would have solved an immediate structural problem.
The only complication was emotional as much as tactical: a direct move from Barcelona to Real Madrid would have been unprecedented in the women’s game.
The next window may not deliver names as big as these, but this summer has set the tone. The key storyline now is whether Europe’s elite clubs start treating squad fit - not just star power - as the real currency of the market.