An increasing number of players moving to England can still benefit the women’s game in Scotland, says Scottish Women’s Premier League managing director Fiona McIntyre.
Ipswich Town, of England’s second tier, have recruited six SWPL players this summer, reflecting a broader shift south.
The Tractor Girls have signed Celtic’s Emma Lawton, Hearts trio Georgia Hunter, Bayley Hutchinson and Georgia Timms, plus Hibernian duo Rosie Livingston and Eilidh Adams.
Hibs have also seen influential forward Kathleen McGovern join Newcastle United in the same division, while Rangers’ Mia McAulay has moved to WSL side Aston Villa.
McIntyre views these moves as unsurprising given England’s resources, but wants Scottish clubs to secure greater fees for the talent they nurture.
Speaking at the new season launch, she noted that although no league wants to lose its best players, Scotland’s proximity to one of the world’s most heavily backed competitions highlights the quality of the SWPL.
Ideally, she said, the top players would remain in Scotland and keep standards high, but opportunities in a better-resourced league are a reality the SWPL accepts.
She added that, provided clubs are fairly compensated, outgoing transfers can form a sustainable part of the women’s game’s economic model.
McIntyre expects that financial aspect to grow, though most summer switches to England came via freedom of contract, meaning no compensation was due.
“We’re not yet generating significant income through player trading,” she said. “That will develop over time and become a new revenue stream.”
She also emphasized that departures create space for emerging players to gain meaningful minutes.
Pointing to Hearts’ strong Champions League qualifying performances with a youthful squad, she noted that chances like these often arise when others move on.
McIntyre urged a positive view: the situation can help Scotland develop into a hub for talent.
Some players leaving could even strengthen the national team, she added, while openings at home allow young Scottish prospects to break through.
The SWPL 2026–27 season kicks off on Sunday, 16 August.