UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 is breaking records everywhere. Attendances at the group stage have been higher than ever before, and viewing figures are soaring. At the heart of it all are the 368 players. Analyzing their clubs and leagues provides interesting insights into the strength of women’s football in different countries.
Players participating in the Women’s EURO 2025 hail from 22 different leagues, spanning from Portugal to Poland. 68% of them play in the so-called ‘Big 5’ leagues, according to Football Benchmark data: England’s Women’s Super League, Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga, Spain’s Liga F, Italy’s Serie A Femminile, and France’s Première Ligue. This highlights an interesting evolution in women’s football. As the game has evolved, an increasing number of players have gravitated towards the Big 5 leagues. England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France are attractive destinations as they offer better pay, infrastructure and footballing opportunities than smaller leagues. Consequently, many countries have seen their best players leave as soon as possible to take on a challenge in a bigger league.
The challenge of developing smaller leagues
For example, only one player in the squad of host nation Switzerland plays in their home country. Midfielder Coumba Sow plays for FC Basel 1893, but all her teammates have joined clubs elsewhere, in Seattle, London or Barcelona. The list of problems in small leagues such as the Swiss AXA Women’s Super League is long. Insufficient pitch conditions and subpar pay — typically around 1,000 Swiss francs — are just the tip of the iceberg. A lack of commitment to developing women’s football from the clubs is one of the most important hurdles. “The league needs to become more professional. And that requires money”, stresses Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage.
For now, the league only serves as an intermediate step for young talent until they reach a level at which they can compete elsewhere. The Swiss leagues face similar challenges to those in Portugal, Poland and Belgium. In many small leagues, the message for young players is clear: leave when you can if you truly want to become a great player. The lack of development in many of these leagues is a cause for concern. At the UEFA Men’s Euro 2024, 62% of players competed in the top five leagues – slightly fewer than in the women’s equivalent. Developing intermediate leagues such as the Swedish Damallsvenskan and the Dutch Eredivisie, both of which have already made significant progress in recent years, will be crucial for the development of women’s football in Europe.
Big 5 leagues: Positive trends in women’s football
However, the increasing number of players competing in the top leagues also highlights a positive trend. These leagues have made significant progress in recent years, becoming more professional in all areas, from staff to training conditions. It will take time for every club to reach this level, but the direction is right. England is leading the way. It’s no coincidence that 21% of the players competing in the Women’s EURO hail from England – the highest proportion from any country. England is also the only country with a second tier that has more than one player at the Euro. The Women’s Super League 2 (previously Women’s Championship), England’s second tier, has grown significantly in recent years, with nine Euro participants currently playing there. A total of 83 tournament players are under contract in England, followed by Italy with 52, Germany with 47 and Spain with 39.
A total of 107 clubs are represented. Almost the entire squad of FC Barcelona is travelling to Switzerland for the Euro, with 17 players currently competing there. Bayern (16 players), Chelsea (14), Juventus (14) and Arsenal (13) complete the top five. Even a smaller English club like Everton has eight players competing. This is testament to the competitiveness and attractiveness of the English league, which other leagues will seek to replicate. A closer look at the data reveals another interesting finding. Europe remains by far the most popular destination for participants in the Women’s Euro, with 92% of players competing in their home continent. The remaining 8% either don’t currently have a club or play in North America.
North America: Dynamic development of new leagues
Stars such as Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC) and France’s Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave) play in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Recognised as the world’s most competitive league, the NWSL has recently welcomed more European players, but this trend is still in its infancy. However, the NWSL isn’t the only league in North America. Established in 2021, the USL Super League has sought to create an alternative pathway to professional football in the US, running alongside the NWSL.
The recently founded Canadian Northern Super League has also welcomed several international players, though none of them are competing at the Euro this summer. The Mexican league, Liga MX Apertura, has also taken significant steps, welcoming players such as Ana Seica from Portugal and former Spanish international Jennifer Hermoso. Unlike in men’s football, Saudi Arabia is not yet a popular destination for players. The country’s stance on women’s rights may explain this discrepancy.
The numbers from this year’s Women’s Euro demonstrate some exciting developments in the leagues in Europe and North America. The establishment of new leagues means that players have more choices and a stronger negotiating position. However, small leagues are struggling to develop as their star players leave after a short while. It will be interesting to witness the process of balancing the need to develop decent playing conditions everywhere with the need to develop strong leagues, which might harm smaller ones.
Text: Helene Altgelt
Credit cover photo: Pauline Figuet
