Louise Gould on Celtic FC Women’s Summer of Worldwide Signings

Ange Postecoglou hasn’t been the only Celtic manager who has had a busy summer signing players from all over the world. Fran Alonso has been busy doing the exact same thing ahead of this Sunday’s SWPL opener away to newly promoted Aberdeen, the current SWPL2 Champions.

Louise Gould, whose famous dad Jonathan was of course a Celtic goalkeeper of some distinction, has joined the Celtic media team this season and has summarised the transfer dealing that the Spanish wheeler dealer has pulled together this summer using his extensive contacts in the game to hopefully improve his Celtic side as they look to go one better and topple Glasgow City for this season title. Big spenders theRangers – who missed out on the Champions League qualification after finishing third last season – will also have title winning ambitions so it’s going to be a competitive league, which will be enhanced by the arrival of Aberdeen.

Celtic did lose Lisa Robertson, last season’s Player of the Year and Sarah Ewens the club’s top scorer for the previous four seasons. Both players joined up with former Glasgow City manager Scott Booth at Birmingham City and last season’s lion star from Tottenham Anna Filbey decided against staying at Celtic for personal reasons after being feed by Spurs. Instead the Wales international midfielder signed a contract at Charlton Athletic, to be closer to home. These three blows made things difficult for Alonso after the momentum he’d built up last season when Celtic went on an incredible run to take City all the way to the last day in the race for the title.

Here’s how Louise Gould describes Fran Alonso’s new additions on the Celtic FC Women website for this season with the latest arrival coming in on deadline day…

Celtic FC Women complete summer of worldwide signings…

The transfer window has closed, and Celtic FC Women had a busy summer searching all corners of the globe, with seven signings arriving during the 2021 summer transfer window.

The seven new arrivals to Fran Alonso’s squad hail from China, New Zealand, Canada, Iceland, US, England and Ireland. All bar one of the new players have already experienced playing in the famous green and white this season, having featured in the squad for Celtic Women’s debut in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Latest recruit and deadline day signing Clarissa Larisey joined the Hoops from newly crowned Icelandic champions Valur, subject to international clearance. The 22-year-old Canadian striker, who previously netted 34 times in 73 appearances for the University of Memphis, will add more fire power to Alonso’s squad.

New Celt and Chinese Internationalist Shen Mengyu made history by becoming the first ever Chinese woman player in the UK. The dynamic midfielder made the move from Shanghai Shengli for the 2021/22 season. The 19-year-old narrowly missed out on selection for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics having been involved in the initial squad of 26.

Celtic have however added an Olympian to the mix, with the arrival of New Zealand international Olivia Chance. The 27-year-old spent the summer in Tokyo with the Football Ferns, before making her Celtic debut in Norway against FC Minsk in the UWCL.

Olivia Chance

American centre-back Cheyenne Shorts made her way to Paradise after the Covid-19 pandemic forced her out of playing action at Orlando Pride and Saint Etienne.

Irish teenager Tyler Toland has already made her mark in the squad featuring heavily in the team’s preseason matches, as well as in the UWCL.

María Ólafsdóttir Gros

Icelandic winger María Ólafsdóttir Gros arrived at Celtic Park from Thor KA – achieving her dream of playing professional football.

English striker Charlie Wellings made the move north of the border to join the Hoops earlier in the summer. The 23-year-old signed from Bristol City in July, having scored in the 2017 FA Women’s Cup Final at Wembley Stadium whilst playing for Birmingham City.

Alonso’s rejuvenated squad start their league campaign this weekend against Aberdeen at Balmoral Stadium, at 4:10pm on Sunday, 5 September.