The rise of young stars being offered professional contracts in the WSL speaks volumes about the league’s attitude towards youth development and increasing the number of women who play professional football. Over the years, some exceptional young players have featured for the academies of teams in England’s top league and have gone on to become household names.
Arsenal forward Chloe Kelly and Manchester City midfielder Grace Clinton, who were in the youth academies at Arsenal and Everton respectively, now feature regularly for both their clubs and the Lionesses. With the upcoming changes to academy contracts, more players are likely to make the jump to first team football.
From the beginning of the 2026-2027 season, the WSL and WSL2 have announced the introduction of academy contracts for 16 year-olds. These contracts will run for two years and contain benefits for the long term future of players.
One benefit is equal pay across both the WSL and WSL2 for any player that is offered and signs an academy contract and that pay will be similar to what Premier League academy players earn. This highlights the league’s commitment to fairness and equality for all players, which is imperative for the future of the game.
Another benefit is that the importance of education will not be overlooked. Lessons and exams will be provided for young players, supporting them academically and adopting a socially sustainable approach in terms of player care.
A WSL spokesperson said:
“We want to put the player at the heart of these decisions and for them to make their own choices on their education pathway.”
This will also be extremely beneficial for clubs as it will allow them to hold onto players on academy contracts so that they can help them develop and grow in a familiar environment- other teams won’t be able to sign players on academy contracts at free will.
A spokesperson for the WSL also said:
“Hopefully this provides a long-term sustainability plan for the pathway, and gives clarity to players.”
Overall, this is a really good initiative. It takes into consideration the importance of learning for young people whilst also creating a clear path for their future and this is extremely beneficial for player development. it provides young aspiring players with opportunities to gain valuable experience at the highest level, meaning these contracts could possibly act as the catalyst for players to go on to have a successful career with the club they sign for.
