Rapid Rise to the Top Four

Tottenham Hotspur Women finished 11th in the 2024-25 Women’s Super League and are now poised for a fifth-place finish this season. The club’s transformation is largely credited to the appointment of manager Martin Ho last summer and a highly successful transfer window.

Key Signings

Ho’s summer squad overhaul brought in seven players who have already made an impact. Striker Shekiera Martinez joined from West Ham after scoring 10 goals in the second half of the 2024-25 season, finishing third in the Golden Boot race. Former Aston Villa and Manchester United forward Kirsty Hanson, who also finished third in the Golden Boot last season, was signed to add versatility to the frontline.

Goalkeeper Selma Panengstuen, who previously played under Ho at SK Brann, and midfielder Signe Gaupset, who arrived for a club-record fee of £378,000 (€430,000), strengthened the squad early in the window. Defender Caitlin Dijkstra, a former Wolfsburg, Twente and Ajax player with Champions League experience, added leadership to the backline.

The club also signed two UEFA Women’s Champions League winners: midfielder Victoria Pelova, who lifted the 2025 trophy with Arsenal, and defender Alice Sombath, who won the trophy in 2021-22 with OL Lyonnes and has five domestic league titles and four domestic cups. Sombath’s arrival set a new club record fee in July.

Early Deals, Strong Planning

Ho said that all but one of the club’s main targets were completed early in the summer, with most identified as far back as September 2025. “Doing business early helps because it doesn’t become an auction,” he explained. The early approach allowed Spurs to avoid bidding wars and secure players who felt valued.

Leadership and Academy Focus

Former managing director Andy Rodgers, who left the club after a 24-year tenure, was praised for laying the foundations that enabled the club’s recent success. Under Rodgers’ leadership, Spurs reached its first FA Cup final in 2024 and secured a historic North London derby victory in December 2023.

The academy remains a priority, with a focus on meeting the homegrown quota of at least eight registered players who have been with an English or Welsh club for three seasons before turning 21. This strategy aims to create a sustainable pipeline of talent as the transfer market grows more competitive.

Managerial Impact

Ho, who previously led SK Brann to Champions League quarter-finals and served as an assistant at Everton and Manchester United, was ranked 17th in ESPN’s inaugural women’s manager ranking. Within a year of taking charge, he guided Spurs from 11th to 5th, closing the gap against the league’s traditional powerhouses.

Looking Ahead

With a squad bolstered by Champions League winners and Golden Boot contenders, Tottenham Hotspur Women are now a genuine contender for a top-four finish. The club’s strategic recruitment, early deals, and strong leadership position it to challenge Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United for the first time in recent history.