WSL takeover: Deal for club-owned body to replace FA now complete

A new independent company owned by clubs that have taken over the top two tiers of English women’s football could take the sport to “unprecedented levels”, its chief executive has said.

Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) now operates the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Championship and says it will herald a “new era” for the sport.

WPLL – which was known as NewCo before the deal – will be led by former Nike chief executive Nikki Doucet, who said English women’s football had seen “unprecedented growth” but could grow even further.

Doucet said: “We are committed to building on this momentum by creating a thriving landscape that prioritizes player welfare and development, fosters and encourages a vibrant fan community and drives the growth of the sport.”

Now that the change of ownership is complete, BBC Sport looks at what’s different and what the future could hold.