The West Ham Women summer signings have transformed Rita Guarino’s squad ahead of the 2026/27 Women’s Super League season. Nine permanent deals have been completed, bringing a mixture of Champions League pedigree, established WSL quality and young talent to east London.
West Ham finished tenth last season, but Guarino oversaw a clear improvement during the second half of the campaign. The response this summer has been aggressive, with significant changes made across almost every area of the squad.
Katie Zelem and Estelle Cascarino have turned successful loan spells into permanent moves. Constance Picaud, Laia Codina, Nadine Riesen, Sienna Wareing, Niamh Peacock, Ebony Salmon and Kelly Gago have also joined.
That recruitment gives Guarino considerably more depth than she had last season. More importantly, there appears to be a clear idea behind the rebuild.
West Ham Women summer signings transform Guarino’s defence
The most eye-catching addition is Laia Codina.
West Ham secured the Spain international on a three-year contract following her departure from Arsenal. The 26-year-old arrives as a World Cup winner who has also lifted the Women’s Champions League with both Barcelona and Arsenal.
ReadWestHam covered Codina’s three-year West Ham deal following her Arsenal exit, while West Ham’s official announcement details the defender’s extensive trophy record.
Codina should immediately raise the technical level of Guarino’s back line. She is comfortable receiving possession under pressure and has been developed in sides expected to control the ball rather than simply defend their penalty area.
Her reading of the game is another important quality. Codina does not need to rely solely on physical defending because she positions herself well and anticipates danger before it develops.
West Ham have also retained Estelle Cascarino permanently after her loan from Juventus.
Cascarino made 12 appearances during the second half of last season and helped West Ham keep four clean sheets. She was also Player of the Match in the 1-0 victory away at Liverpool.
ReadWestHam reported Cascarino’s permanent three-year deal after the France international established herself under Guarino.
Her familiarity with the manager could be particularly valuable. Cascarino previously worked with Guarino at Juventus and already understands the defensive demands placed on her.
Nadine Riesen provides another option across the back line.
The Switzerland international joined after leaving Eintracht Frankfurt and signed a three-year contract. She made 69 appearances during her time in Germany and contributed nine assists.
ReadWestHam analysed Riesen’s arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt, while West Ham describe her as a full-back capable of influencing both halves of the pitch.
Riesen should give West Ham greater attacking width. Her ability to advance from full-back could be particularly useful against opponents who defend deeper and force Guarino’s team to create from wide areas.
The defensive rebuild also includes Niamh Peacock.
The 18-year-old joined from Arsenal after a decade in their academy and has signed her first professional contract. She spent parts of last season gaining senior experience with Watford and Portsmouth.
Peacock is primarily a central defender, rather than a midfielder. Guarino has already highlighted her willingness to play forward from the back, an attribute that fits the direction West Ham appear to be taking.
The WSL confirmed Peacock as West Ham’s sixth summer signing and outlined her development at Arsenal.
Constance Picaud can provide stability in goal
Constance Picaud may prove to be one of the most important additions of the window.
The France international signed a three-year contract after leaving Fleury, where she had developed into the club captain.
Picaud kept 19 clean sheets across 40 appearances for the French side and arrives with experience of major international tournaments.
ReadWestHam looked at why Picaud can become the anchor of Guarino’s rebuilt defence. West Ham’s own profile also confirms her experience with France and previous spell at Paris Saint-Germain. West Ham profile: Constance Picaud
Her shot-stopping is important, but Guarino will also expect Picaud to contribute in possession.
West Ham have added defenders who are comfortable receiving the ball and progressing play. A goalkeeper confident enough to participate in that build-up should make it easier for the team to play through pressure.
Competition remains in the goalkeeping department, but Picaud arrives with the profile to challenge immediately for the starting position.
If Codina, Cascarino and Picaud can establish an understanding quickly, West Ham should have a far more experienced defensive spine.
Katie Zelem gives West Ham control while Sienna Wareing offers potential
Katie Zelem becoming a permanent West Ham player was one of the least risky decisions of the summer.
The midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan in east London before agreeing a three-year contract.
Guarino therefore knows exactly what she is getting.
Zelem has extensive WSL experience and previously captained Manchester United. Her game is based around intelligence, passing and control rather than physical dominance.
ReadWestHam analysed why Zelem can become the midfield reference point in Guarino’s system.
Her passing range should be particularly valuable if West Ham want to dominate possession more consistently. She can switch play, receive the ball from defenders and find attacking players between the lines.
Set-pieces also provide another route to goal.
Zelem has delivered dangerous corners and free-kicks throughout her career, which could become increasingly valuable with more aerial strength now available in the squad.
At the opposite end of the experience scale is Sienna Wareing.
The 18-year-old left Manchester United after seven years in their system and signed her first professional contract with West Ham.
Wareing was named United’s Academy Under-21 Player of the Year last season and scored the winner in the Professional Game Academy Plate final.
ReadWestHam covered Wareing becoming Guarino’s fifth addition of the summer.
She should not be expected to immediately control WSL matches. However, the pathway at West Ham could give her senior opportunities that would have been much harder to secure elsewhere.
Training alongside Zelem should also benefit her development.
Guarino has described Wareing as a creative midfielder capable of affecting the final third. That suggests West Ham see her as more than simply a long-term squad player.
Ebony Salmon and Kelly Gago give West Ham more attacking threat
West Ham needed greater variety in attack and have responded by signing two forwards with proven WSL experience.
Ebony Salmon arrived following her departure from Aston Villa.
The 25-year-old can operate centrally or from either flank and has already made more than 90 WSL appearances across spells with Bristol City and Villa.
She also spent two seasons in the United States with Racing Louisville and Houston Dash.
ReadWestHam covered Salmon’s two-year contract and arrival as the seventh summer signing, while the WSL describes her pace, power and ability to play across the front line.
Those qualities could change the way West Ham attack.
Salmon’s pace in behind can force opposition defensive lines backwards and create additional space for midfield players. She is also comfortable attacking defenders directly.
The challenge will be turning those qualities into consistent goals.
Salmon scored 14 times in 75 appearances during her three seasons with Villa. West Ham will hope that a prominent role in Guarino’s attack can help her improve that return.
Kelly Gago provides another established option.
The France international completed a permanent move from Everton on a three-year deal and became West Ham’s ninth summer signing.
She scored ten goals in 30 appearances across all competitions for Everton and had previously been prolific in France and Italy.
ReadWestHam covered Gago’s move from Everton and what she adds to the attack. West Ham’s official announcement confirms her three-year contract and goalscoring record.
Gago brings a slightly different profile.
She is powerful, direct and capable of playing through the middle or moving into wider positions. Guarino therefore has the option of using Gago and Salmon together or rotating them depending on the opposition.
That flexibility was not always available last season.
Can West Ham’s rebuild deliver a top-half challenge?
Nine permanent additions inevitably bring uncertainty.
New defenders must develop relationships with their goalkeeper. Midfield combinations need time to settle, while attacking players have to understand each other’s movement.
West Ham cannot simply assume that individual quality will immediately produce results.
However, the structure of the recruitment is encouraging.
Picaud provides international experience in goal. Codina, Cascarino and Riesen strengthen a defence that needed greater control, while Peacock represents a longer-term investment.
Zelem provides experience in midfield and Wareing adds potential.
Gago and Salmon should increase the pace, power and competition available in attack.
The club have also retained important players from last season, including Hammer of the Year Oona Siren. That continuity matters when so much around her is changing.
West Ham’s official first-team squad currently lists Picaud in goal, Codina, Cascarino, Riesen and Peacock among the defenders, Wareing and Zelem in midfield and Gago and Salmon in attack. West Ham Women’s current first-team squad
Guarino therefore enters her first full season with a much deeper group.
Breaking into the WSL’s Champions League places remains a huge task. Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea finished comfortably ahead of West Ham last season, while several other clubs are also investing heavily.
The more realistic first step is establishing West Ham comfortably away from the bottom of the table.
A top-half challenge should become the ambition if the new players settle quickly.
Last season was largely about stabilising West Ham after Guarino’s arrival. The 2026/27 campaign should reveal whether this rebuild can take them significantly further.
The West Ham Women summer signings have provided the manager with more quality, experience and tactical flexibility.
Now Guarino has to turn an impressive transfer window into a better team.
