News not exactly from home
The American professional soccer league to be, WPS, has announced that they have provisionally chosen 128 W-League players to participate in the upcoming USL W-League Combine - a sort of huge try-out for the new league. This wouldn't normally make it to these pages, but I couldn't help notice that former Qbik player Therese Lückner, who has been playing for Boston Renegades this W-League season, is one of the 20 players that was named in the announcement. She has been having a good season in Boston, where she is credited with turning their defense around from a dismal 2007 season. Must be fun for a player that's been trawling the bottom of Damallsvenskan with Qbik and Mallbacken for several years and I wish her all the best!
By the way, you can actually notice a lot of Damallsvenskan old acquaintances on the list: Kim Brandao (Falköping 2007), Jill Oakes (Falköping 2007), Michele O'Brien (Qbik 2007), Kelly Schmedes (Kif Örebro 2006) and Julianne Sitch (Bälinge 2006).
WPS: 20 players for USL W-League Combine unveiled
By the way, you can actually notice a lot of Damallsvenskan old acquaintances on the list: Kim Brandao (Falköping 2007), Jill Oakes (Falköping 2007), Michele O'Brien (Qbik 2007), Kelly Schmedes (Kif Örebro 2006) and Julianne Sitch (Bälinge 2006).
WPS: 20 players for USL W-League Combine unveiled
News from home
A few lines on non-Olympic news:
Relagation-threatened Bälinge IF has strengthened their squad with Temryss Lane, a 26 years old Arizona State alumnus who played for Sacramento Storm in the American WPSL this season. She is a defender and has played with Bälinge's Natalie Spilger before.
Bälinge IF: Äntligen lite glada nyheter!!
Sunnanå has lost outside midfielder Kristin Viklund for several months in a freak accident. She was opening a can of pineapple and managed to cut her so badly in the hand that both a tendon and a nerve got cut. The prognosis for recovery is good, but she has to keep away from activities where she can hurt her hand again, including football, for three months.
Norra Västerbotten: Kicki borta i månader
Umeå Södra's latest acquisition, Niki Cross, has arrived in Umeå and says she is willing to play wherever the coach wants her to play. She is eager to help Umeå Södra avoid relegation.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Cross har landat i Umeå
LDB FC Malmö invited six particulary promising young players (16-17 years mostly) to train a few days with the team. All players were there with their clubs permission and it is not about any imminent signings, more a chance for club and players to get to know each other better. The group consisted of five players from Swedish 1st and 2nd division clubs (all with experience from the national youth teams) and Dutch national team player Karin Stevens from Dutch club Willem II.
LDB Malmö: Handplockade talanger tränar med LdB FC
OK, I have to make an addition here. I checked any possible Dutch news on this and according to media in the Netherlands, Stevens has been offered a contract by LDB FC Malmö. She has not yet decided if she is going to accept it.
KNVB: Karin Stevens overtuigt Malmö, maar twijfelt nog (there are many others - just google away - , but this story is from the official site of the Dutch Football Association).
Relagation-threatened Bälinge IF has strengthened their squad with Temryss Lane, a 26 years old Arizona State alumnus who played for Sacramento Storm in the American WPSL this season. She is a defender and has played with Bälinge's Natalie Spilger before.
Bälinge IF: Äntligen lite glada nyheter!!
Sunnanå has lost outside midfielder Kristin Viklund for several months in a freak accident. She was opening a can of pineapple and managed to cut her so badly in the hand that both a tendon and a nerve got cut. The prognosis for recovery is good, but she has to keep away from activities where she can hurt her hand again, including football, for three months.
Norra Västerbotten: Kicki borta i månader
Umeå Södra's latest acquisition, Niki Cross, has arrived in Umeå and says she is willing to play wherever the coach wants her to play. She is eager to help Umeå Södra avoid relegation.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Cross har landat i Umeå
LDB FC Malmö invited six particulary promising young players (16-17 years mostly) to train a few days with the team. All players were there with their clubs permission and it is not about any imminent signings, more a chance for club and players to get to know each other better. The group consisted of five players from Swedish 1st and 2nd division clubs (all with experience from the national youth teams) and Dutch national team player Karin Stevens from Dutch club Willem II.
LDB Malmö: Handplockade talanger tränar med LdB FC
OK, I have to make an addition here. I checked any possible Dutch news on this and according to media in the Netherlands, Stevens has been offered a contract by LDB FC Malmö. She has not yet decided if she is going to accept it.
KNVB: Karin Stevens overtuigt Malmö, maar twijfelt nog (there are many others - just google away - , but this story is from the official site of the Dutch Football Association).
LDB FC loans out more players to Tyresö
LDB FC Malmö's cooperation with the 1st division club has brought more loans to Stockholm suburb club. Malmö's attacker/midfielder Emma Stålhammar has turned down the loan, since she has a minor foot injury and has decided that rest is the best prepartion for the fall season. Instead another Malmö U23 player, defender Emma Wilhelmsson, goes to Tyresö för the August matches.
The cooperation between LDB FC and Tyresö goes further that just player loans. The ambition is to cooperate in all areas: training, organization, marketing and player recruiting. The first example of the last item, recruiting, comes as the 25 years old American centre back Stephanie Peel (last with former Malmö team captain Denise Reddy's club Jersey Sky Blue) joins Tyresö. She has been on trial with Malmö, but, at least not yet, deemed good enough for the first team. Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson will follow her development in Tyresö.
Tyresö also has former Kristianstad attacker Elin Bjerre training with the team, even if she is uncertain if she can committ fully to 1st division play. She moved to Stockholm for a new job and have to give that priority.
Damfotboll.com: LdBs FCs mittback Emma Wilhelmsson till Tyresö
In other LDB FC news, their young defender Lina Rehov leaves the club at least one year for college studies. Rehov, who is capped for Sweden at the U17 and U19 teams, comes from Malmö's youth system. She was brought up to the first team 2007, but has only played two premier division matches. She has recieved a scholarship at the renowned Florida State University, where Umeå's Mami Yamaguchi played.
LDB FC: Rehov till USA
The cooperation between LDB FC and Tyresö goes further that just player loans. The ambition is to cooperate in all areas: training, organization, marketing and player recruiting. The first example of the last item, recruiting, comes as the 25 years old American centre back Stephanie Peel (last with former Malmö team captain Denise Reddy's club Jersey Sky Blue) joins Tyresö. She has been on trial with Malmö, but, at least not yet, deemed good enough for the first team. Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson will follow her development in Tyresö.
Tyresö also has former Kristianstad attacker Elin Bjerre training with the team, even if she is uncertain if she can committ fully to 1st division play. She moved to Stockholm for a new job and have to give that priority.
Damfotboll.com: LdBs FCs mittback Emma Wilhelmsson till Tyresö
In other LDB FC news, their young defender Lina Rehov leaves the club at least one year for college studies. Rehov, who is capped for Sweden at the U17 and U19 teams, comes from Malmö's youth system. She was brought up to the first team 2007, but has only played two premier division matches. She has recieved a scholarship at the renowned Florida State University, where Umeå's Mami Yamaguchi played.
LDB FC: Rehov till USA
American league announces interest in Damallsvenskan players
Roland Arnqvist, responsible for player contracts at Umeå IK, reveals that the new American soccer league WPS has been in touch with the club regarding some of their players. Lauren Gregg, who works with international player contracts for the league, approached Umeå, requesting permission to start talks with three players; Brazilians Marta and Elaine and Swiss teenage talent Ramona Bachmann. WPS recieved Umeå's permission to start contract talks with Marta, but were denied this when it comes to Elaine and Bachmann. Both these players are on two year contracts and are tied to Umeå through the 2009 season. It is of course possible, and not uncommon, to change clubs during a contract period, but Arnqvist doesn't think WPS has the money to buy the players from Umeå. He adds that he wouldn't recommend a young player to join the WPS the first years, but rather wait and see. But then, he is not really an impartial observer here.
You could, by the way, guess that Umeå isn't the only club that has been approached with similar requests. But so far Arnqvist is the only one who has talked.
Roland Arnqvist, who is no longer employed by Umeå, is hired by the club to handle player recruiting. He has already offered most of the players contracts for 2009 and says that he hopes to have wrapped things up by the time the league restarts in late August. Several players (Sofia Jakobsson, Ramona Bachmann, Elaine, Madeleine Edlund and Emmelie Konradsson) recieved two year contracts last year and are thus already clear for 2009. Among the others, Arnqvist reveals that his first priority is Mami Yamaguchi, whom he has offered a two year deal.
Västerbottens Folkblad: USA-ligan på jakt efter UIK-spelare, UIK tryggar framtiden tidigt
You could, by the way, guess that Umeå isn't the only club that has been approached with similar requests. But so far Arnqvist is the only one who has talked.
Roland Arnqvist, who is no longer employed by Umeå, is hired by the club to handle player recruiting. He has already offered most of the players contracts for 2009 and says that he hopes to have wrapped things up by the time the league restarts in late August. Several players (Sofia Jakobsson, Ramona Bachmann, Elaine, Madeleine Edlund and Emmelie Konradsson) recieved two year contracts last year and are thus already clear for 2009. Among the others, Arnqvist reveals that his first priority is Mami Yamaguchi, whom he has offered a two year deal.
Västerbottens Folkblad: USA-ligan på jakt efter UIK-spelare, UIK tryggar framtiden tidigt
Daniela stays at Linköping
Linköping announced last Thursday that they have extended the contract with Brazilian midfielder Daniela Alves to include the entire 2008 season. There is yet no solution for their other brazilian, forward Cristiane. Trying to keep the club's two Brazilians is an expensive affair and sport director Anders Mäki revealed that they actually havn't secured all of the financing of Daniela's contract yet. A contract proposal to Cristiane is not imminent: "We still need quite a lot of more money", Mäki states.
Both of the Brazilians have done a great job so far and the club wants to keep them both. But the club finances are strained. When forced to chose between the two Brazilians, the coaches' assessment that Daniela was most important for the team was deciding. "You can't say anything other than that Daniela has been the better one during the spring. And we have plenty of alternatives for Cristiane's position, like Jessica Landström, Kosovare Asslani, Josefine Öqvist and Lisa Nilsson", comments Mäki.
Corren: Daniela klar för spel i LFC
Both of the Brazilians have done a great job so far and the club wants to keep them both. But the club finances are strained. When forced to chose between the two Brazilians, the coaches' assessment that Daniela was most important for the team was deciding. "You can't say anything other than that Daniela has been the better one during the spring. And we have plenty of alternatives for Cristiane's position, like Jessica Landström, Kosovare Asslani, Josefine Öqvist and Lisa Nilsson", comments Mäki.
Corren: Daniela klar för spel i LFC
Transfer sum-up as window closes
Traditionally Sweden has had a summer transfer window during July and August. Now the Swedish FA has decided to comply with the FIFA recommendation that an in-season transfer window shouldn't be longer than one month while the window between the seasons can be much longer. Since Sweden, unlike most of Europe, plays spring to fall, the summer transfer window was open only during July.
Umeå Södra FF signed 23 years old American Nikki Cross (University of Connecticut), an all- round player who just finished her 2008 season with Connecticut Soccer Plus in WPSL. Sport director Ola Carlén says they are primarily looking at her as a winger.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Södra fortsätter värva amerikanskt
KIF Örebro signs 17 years old twins Sara and Emma Fogelqvist from 2nd division side Kumla AIK. Emma is capped on youth level.
KIF Örebro: Nygamla förvärv
Kristianstad loans out their seldom used midfielder Veronika Persson to Vittsjö, a 1st division side, for the rest of 2008.
Kristianstadsbladet: Flera förändringar i KDFF-truppen
LDB FC Malmö loanes out young winger Antonia Göransson to Kristianstads DFF for the rest of the season. And since Damallsvenskan is on hold during the Olympics, but the lower divisions play, they have made loan deals with two 1st division sides. Defenders Emelie Ölander and Lina Nilsson as well as goalkeeper Stephanie Öhrström joins Sundsvalls DFF for the August matches while the offensive players Emma Stålhammar and Aylin Yaren goes to Stockholm side Tyresö FF.
Sundsvalls Tidning: Förstärkningar i SDFF
LDB FC: Ytterligare två spelare lånas ut
Kopparbergs/Göteborgs FC lets Sofie Andersson to 1st division side Öster for the August matches.
Damfotboll.com: Allsvensk gör come-back i Öster
Umeå Södra FF signed 23 years old American Nikki Cross (University of Connecticut), an all- round player who just finished her 2008 season with Connecticut Soccer Plus in WPSL. Sport director Ola Carlén says they are primarily looking at her as a winger.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Södra fortsätter värva amerikanskt
KIF Örebro signs 17 years old twins Sara and Emma Fogelqvist from 2nd division side Kumla AIK. Emma is capped on youth level.
KIF Örebro: Nygamla förvärv
Kristianstad loans out their seldom used midfielder Veronika Persson to Vittsjö, a 1st division side, for the rest of 2008.
Kristianstadsbladet: Flera förändringar i KDFF-truppen
LDB FC Malmö loanes out young winger Antonia Göransson to Kristianstads DFF for the rest of the season. And since Damallsvenskan is on hold during the Olympics, but the lower divisions play, they have made loan deals with two 1st division sides. Defenders Emelie Ölander and Lina Nilsson as well as goalkeeper Stephanie Öhrström joins Sundsvalls DFF for the August matches while the offensive players Emma Stålhammar and Aylin Yaren goes to Stockholm side Tyresö FF.
Sundsvalls Tidning: Förstärkningar i SDFF
LDB FC: Ytterligare två spelare lånas ut
Kopparbergs/Göteborgs FC lets Sofie Andersson to 1st division side Öster for the August matches.
Damfotboll.com: Allsvensk gör come-back i Öster
Umeå Södra and Kristianstad looking for reinforcements
Umeå Södra, that recently hired defender Fanta Cooper (Jersey Sky Blue in the W-league) and young attacker Emelie Becker (Team Hudik in the Swedish 2nd division), is still looking for more. They hope to be able to announce a third player by the end of this week. It is a foreign player, an outside midfielder of "high Damallsvenskan quality", who hasn't played in Sweden before.
If I should wager a guess here, we are looking at a player from the American W-league. The regular season finished last weekend and the play-offs are done by the end of the month, so there could be a player or two that might want to extend their season with a couple of months in Sweden.
Västerbottenskuriren: Fanta klar - mer snart
At the same time as they are hiring professionals, Umeå Södra are letting two of their younger players, Ellinor Andersson and Emelie Strand, go on loan to the Finnish premier side Nice Futis in Pori.
Västerbottenskuriren: Andersson och Strand från Södra till Finland
Umeå Södra's relegation competitor, Kristianstads DFF, are also looking to strengthen their side. The 18 years old winger Antonia Göransson from LDB FC Malmö, who played for Skjold in the Danish premier last year but still has make her first Damallsvenskan appearence, is trying out for Kristianstad.
Kristianstadsbladet: KDFF testar talang från LdB FC
If I should wager a guess here, we are looking at a player from the American W-league. The regular season finished last weekend and the play-offs are done by the end of the month, so there could be a player or two that might want to extend their season with a couple of months in Sweden.
Västerbottenskuriren: Fanta klar - mer snart
At the same time as they are hiring professionals, Umeå Södra are letting two of their younger players, Ellinor Andersson and Emelie Strand, go on loan to the Finnish premier side Nice Futis in Pori.
Västerbottenskuriren: Andersson och Strand från Södra till Finland
Umeå Södra's relegation competitor, Kristianstads DFF, are also looking to strengthen their side. The 18 years old winger Antonia Göransson from LDB FC Malmö, who played for Skjold in the Danish premier last year but still has make her first Damallsvenskan appearence, is trying out for Kristianstad.
Kristianstadsbladet: KDFF testar talang från LdB FC
Lyon is "interesting", says Schelin
"Lyon is a very good club and takes strides forward. So, of course it's interesting, but I won't decide anything while I'm preparing for a big tournament", comments Lotta Schelin the French champion's interest in her services. Lyon respects her wishes and doesn't demand an answer from her now.
Schelin continues: "If I would go somewhere abroad it has to be at the right level. It is important to get to a good team." Lyon is a really good club, but, she says, so are many other European sides.
Dagens Nyheter: Schelin öppnar för flytt
And concerning the other transfer news yesterday, it seems like FC Indiana's original statement, that Laura del Rio "has been linked" to Umeå IK, took a life of it's own and grew considerably during the day. When the local Umeå paper Västerbottenskuriren asked Roland Arnqvist to comment, the story was that del Rio should have been offered a contract by Umeå. Not quite the same thing.
Schelin continues: "If I would go somewhere abroad it has to be at the right level. It is important to get to a good team." Lyon is a really good club, but, she says, so are many other European sides.
Dagens Nyheter: Schelin öppnar för flytt
And concerning the other transfer news yesterday, it seems like FC Indiana's original statement, that Laura del Rio "has been linked" to Umeå IK, took a life of it's own and grew considerably during the day. When the local Umeå paper Västerbottenskuriren asked Roland Arnqvist to comment, the story was that del Rio should have been offered a contract by Umeå. Not quite the same thing.
Olympique Lyon wants Lotta Schelin, Umeå doesn't want Laura del Rio
The French champions and UEFA Women's Cup semifinalists Olympique Lyon wants to sign Kopparbergs/Göteborg's star forward Lotta Schelin as they are preparing to better their 2007/08 Women's Cup run. Göteborg chairman Peter Bronsman confirms that the French side has approached his club and announced their interest in Schelin.
Lyon has also informed that they are persuing Nigerian Cynthia Uwak (last year with Falköpings KIK in Damallsvenskan) and Swiss Lara Dickenmann (last year with Jersey Sky Blue in W-league), who has recently returned from USA after graduating from college. Their ambition is to sign all three players.
Peter Bronsman says that there is always interest in Schelin and it isn't impossible that she will be moving on after eight years in Göteborg. But there are, according to Bronsman, other clubs that has shown interest and personally I would say that even if Lyon is a quality side, the French league is not the place for Schelin to continue her development. She is still young and would benefit from playing in a stronger league.
Olweb: L'OL féminin recrute pour la coupe d'Europe
Dagens Nyheter: Lyon vill köpa Lotta Schelin
In other transfer news, W-league's FC Indiana announces in a press realease that they have offered their Spanish forward Laura Del Rio a two year contract in competition with among others Umeå IK. Umeå IK denies this. Roland Arnqvist, no longer manager but hired by the club as consultant and responsible for player recruitments, says that "this is completely untrue" and that del Rio isn't even one of the players the club is talking about. He also has less than flattering things to say about FC Indiana, which he doesn't consider a serious organization.
There is a connection between Umeå and Laura del Rio, though. She was on a try-out in Umeå last summer, but didn't get any offer. The club at that time said that she was too slow, not aggressive enough in attack and generally didn't offer anything Umeå didn't already have on the team.
Soccer scene USA: del Rio Offered Two-Year Contract With Lionesses
Västerbottenskuriren: "UIK har gett bud"
Lyon has also informed that they are persuing Nigerian Cynthia Uwak (last year with Falköpings KIK in Damallsvenskan) and Swiss Lara Dickenmann (last year with Jersey Sky Blue in W-league), who has recently returned from USA after graduating from college. Their ambition is to sign all three players.
Peter Bronsman says that there is always interest in Schelin and it isn't impossible that she will be moving on after eight years in Göteborg. But there are, according to Bronsman, other clubs that has shown interest and personally I would say that even if Lyon is a quality side, the French league is not the place for Schelin to continue her development. She is still young and would benefit from playing in a stronger league.
Olweb: L'OL féminin recrute pour la coupe d'Europe
Dagens Nyheter: Lyon vill köpa Lotta Schelin
In other transfer news, W-league's FC Indiana announces in a press realease that they have offered their Spanish forward Laura Del Rio a two year contract in competition with among others Umeå IK. Umeå IK denies this. Roland Arnqvist, no longer manager but hired by the club as consultant and responsible for player recruitments, says that "this is completely untrue" and that del Rio isn't even one of the players the club is talking about. He also has less than flattering things to say about FC Indiana, which he doesn't consider a serious organization.
There is a connection between Umeå and Laura del Rio, though. She was on a try-out in Umeå last summer, but didn't get any offer. The club at that time said that she was too slow, not aggressive enough in attack and generally didn't offer anything Umeå didn't already have on the team.
Soccer scene USA: del Rio Offered Two-Year Contract With Lionesses
Västerbottenskuriren: "UIK har gett bud"
Fanta Cooper to Umeå Södra
The American defender Fanta Cooper, presently playing for Jersey Sky Blue in the W-league, has agreed to join Umeå Södra to help them trying to avoid relegation. Cooper played two years for Bälinge, helping them promote from the 1st division 2005 and in Damallsvenskan 2006, before moving back to USA to join the New Jersey club 2007.
Cooper, who has been in touch with Umeå Södra's American Jennifer Nobis to hear about the club, says she is thrilled to return to Sweden. She has signed the contract and the club is now waiting for the paperwork from the immigration authorities to come through.
The last regular season match for Sky Blue will be played this weekend and at the moment it looks like they will miss out on the play-offs for the W-league championship. In either case the W-league season is finished before Damallsvenskan resumes it's schedule in late August.
Umeå Södra has also signed Emelie Becker from 2nd division side Team Hudik. The 19 year old Becker, who moves to Umeå for studies, is the leading goalscorer in her division.
Västerbottenskuriren: 'Supertaggad på att spela för Södra'
Västerbottens Folkblad: Södra släcker törsten med Fanta från USA
Seger feeling confident about playing in the Olympics
Linköping's Caroline Seger, diagnozed with thigh muscle rupture a week ago, feel very positive about her rehab training and will travel to Norway with the team. She will however not take the field as Sweden plays Norway on July 20.
Dagens Nyheter: Seger räknar med OS-spel
And in other, completely unrelated player news, LDB FC Malmö's 18 years young midfielder Cecilia Kotte, who hasn't played for Malmö since her ACL tear last summer, goes on loan to Danish premier league side Skjold. She will be joined by forward Jenny Nellbert (17) from Malmö's youth team. LDB FC has an established cooperation with the Copenhagen club and their winger Antonia Göransson had a very successful stay with the Danish team last fall.
3F: Skjold ruster op
Relegation struggler Bälinge are looking to reinforce their squad with a midfielder and a forward. Appearently they are looking at two players from the divisions just below Damallsvenskan.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Sirius och Bälinge jagar nyförvärv
Dagens Nyheter: Seger räknar med OS-spel
And in other, completely unrelated player news, LDB FC Malmö's 18 years young midfielder Cecilia Kotte, who hasn't played for Malmö since her ACL tear last summer, goes on loan to Danish premier league side Skjold. She will be joined by forward Jenny Nellbert (17) from Malmö's youth team. LDB FC has an established cooperation with the Copenhagen club and their winger Antonia Göransson had a very successful stay with the Danish team last fall.
3F: Skjold ruster op
Relegation struggler Bälinge are looking to reinforce their squad with a midfielder and a forward. Appearently they are looking at two players from the divisions just below Damallsvenskan.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Sirius och Bälinge jagar nyförvärv
Daniela and Cristiane leaves Linköping without answers about the future
The Brazilian national team players Daniela and Cristiane played their last match under their current contract with Linköping last night. They will now join the Brazilian national team and prepare for the Olympic games.
Both the players and their coach Daniel Pettersson wants them to return for the last half of the league, that kicks off in August.
"I really hope we both can come back. There are clubs in Brazil that are interested in us, but I want to play here", commented Cristiane after the match yesterday. "This team is like a family for me".
Linköping's sport director Anders Mäki repeated what he has said before. The club wants to keep both Daniela and Cristiane, but they must solve the financing first and it is not clear that they will be able to do that. The additional cost will be something like SEK 1 million, which is a huge sum for a club with a SEK 7 million turn-over.
There has been some talk about Linköping maybe going for re-signing only one of the players, which would make the cost significantly lower. In that case it will almost certainly be Daniela who gets a new contract.
Corren: Sista matchen med gänget?
Both the players and their coach Daniel Pettersson wants them to return for the last half of the league, that kicks off in August.
"I really hope we both can come back. There are clubs in Brazil that are interested in us, but I want to play here", commented Cristiane after the match yesterday. "This team is like a family for me".
Linköping's sport director Anders Mäki repeated what he has said before. The club wants to keep both Daniela and Cristiane, but they must solve the financing first and it is not clear that they will be able to do that. The additional cost will be something like SEK 1 million, which is a huge sum for a club with a SEK 7 million turn-over.
There has been some talk about Linköping maybe going for re-signing only one of the players, which would make the cost significantly lower. In that case it will almost certainly be Daniela who gets a new contract.
Corren: Sista matchen med gänget?
Hammarby players stays, Kristianstad player leaves
Two important Hammarby players, defender Annica Svensson, who has spent the entire season in rehab after an ACL tear, and young midfielder Andrea Comaneci, has extended their contracts over the 2009 season.
Hammarby: Annica och Andrea förlänger med Hammarby
Kristianstad's attacker Elin Bjerre, very important during their promotion winning season last year but mostly coming from the bench this season, leaves the club as she has been offered and accepted a promotion in her day-job, that requires her to move to Stockholm. She doesn't rule out playing in Stockholm, but then probably at a lower level because of the demands from the new job.
Kristianstadsbladet: Elin Bjerre lägger av
Hammarby: Annica och Andrea förlänger med Hammarby
Kristianstad's attacker Elin Bjerre, very important during their promotion winning season last year but mostly coming from the bench this season, leaves the club as she has been offered and accepted a promotion in her day-job, that requires her to move to Stockholm. She doesn't rule out playing in Stockholm, but then probably at a lower level because of the demands from the new job.
Kristianstadsbladet: Elin Bjerre lägger av
Djurgården confirms Femke Maes signing
Djurgården today announced that they have come to an agreement with Belgian national team midfielder Femke Maes. The contract is initially over the next half year, but there is an option for another year. Maes, who won the MVP award in the Dutch league where she has been playing for Willem II, is called a skilled technical player by Djurgården's coach Anders Johansson, "a kind of player that we don't see many of in Damallsvenskan".
Femke Maes will be available to play tonight in the Stockholm derby against AIK.
Djurgården has also signed Freja Hellenberg, a young defender from Alvsjö AIK, who plays on Sweden's U19 team.
Djurgården: Femke Maes till Djurgården
Femke Maes will be available to play tonight in the Stockholm derby against AIK.
Djurgården has also signed Freja Hellenberg, a young defender from Alvsjö AIK, who plays on Sweden's U19 team.
Djurgården: Femke Maes till Djurgården
Extended Brazilian contracts too expensive for Linköping?
Linköping's two Brazilian's Daniela and Cristiane, and in particular the former, has played a big part in the club's recent success, at the present leading Damallsvenskan with 8 points down to chasing Umeå. But their contracts finishes when the league next week goes on a 50 days break for the Olympic games. Linköping obviously wants to keep Daniela and Cristiane for the rest of the season, but it will be expensive. As long as they were on a short term contracts, they had great tax benefits, but once they stay more than six months in Sweden they will have to pay full taxes for the entire period. An extension of the contracts until the league finished in October will thus cost Linköping as much as SEK 1 million.
"For a club with a SEK 7 million a year turnover, this is really big figures", said Linköping FC chairman Christer Mård. It could be worth it, he continued, but the club don't want to risk damaging their finances. Fortunately, they have some time to find a solution before Damallsvenskan resumes the last week in August.
Both Daniela and Cristiane has expressed their wishes to return to Linköping after the Olympics.
Corren: Extrakostnad för LFC: en miljon
"For a club with a SEK 7 million a year turnover, this is really big figures", said Linköping FC chairman Christer Mård. It could be worth it, he continued, but the club don't want to risk damaging their finances. Fortunately, they have some time to find a solution before Damallsvenskan resumes the last week in August.
Both Daniela and Cristiane has expressed their wishes to return to Linköping after the Olympics.
Corren: Extrakostnad för LFC: en miljon
LDB Malmö signs Danish defender
It didn't take long for LDB FC Malmö to find a replacement for injured defender Malin Levenstad. Today they announced the transfer of 23 year old Danish national team defender Christina Øyangen Ørntoft. The Brøndby player, who has played every match for Denmark 2008 and just recently won the Danish championship with her club side, has signed a one and a half year long contract.
LDB's sport director Kenny Jönsson said that they have been in contact with Christina for some time, but when Malin Levenstad sustained her knee injury, they needed to speed things up. There was no transfer fee involved, since her contract with Brøndby expired. Christina Ørntoft said that she is happy to join the club and that the higher level in the Swedish league will help her develop.
Skånska Dagbladet: LDB Malmö värvar dansk landslagsspelare
Sydsvenskan: LDB har värvat landslagsspelare
LDB FC Malmö: Ny spelare klar för LdB FC
LDB's sport director Kenny Jönsson said that they have been in contact with Christina for some time, but when Malin Levenstad sustained her knee injury, they needed to speed things up. There was no transfer fee involved, since her contract with Brøndby expired. Christina Ørntoft said that she is happy to join the club and that the higher level in the Swedish league will help her develop.
Skånska Dagbladet: LDB Malmö värvar dansk landslagsspelare
Sydsvenskan: LDB har värvat landslagsspelare
LDB FC Malmö: Ny spelare klar för LdB FC
Finnish players to Umeå's summer camp
Umeå IK's traditional summer-pro week, where they invite talented youngsters to train with the team for a week, has been the starting point for several of UIK regulars. Current players like Emelie Konradsson, Emma Berglund, Sofia Jakobsson and Emma Åberg-Zingmark all had their first contact with the club this way.
The summer camp has always focused on local players, but this time a quartet of Finnish players will participate. Sanna Vahtera, Pernilla Nordlund, Emmi Alanen and Madeleine Hamber are all playing for FC Sport in Vaasa, a club with close ties to Umeå IK.
Umeå's coach Andrée Jeglertz underlines that there will not be any signings this summer - in spite of trailing five points behind Linköping, he thinks his team is good enough - but the summer camp players might be interesting signings in the future.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Inga nyförvärv till UIK
The summer camp has always focused on local players, but this time a quartet of Finnish players will participate. Sanna Vahtera, Pernilla Nordlund, Emmi Alanen and Madeleine Hamber are all playing for FC Sport in Vaasa, a club with close ties to Umeå IK.
Umeå's coach Andrée Jeglertz underlines that there will not be any signings this summer - in spite of trailing five points behind Linköping, he thinks his team is good enough - but the summer camp players might be interesting signings in the future.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Inga nyförvärv till UIK
Summer transfer news
Kopparbergs/Göteborg defender Elin Dahl Örn has gone on loan to 1st division side Byttorp. The 20 years old player appeared 12 times in Damallsvenskan for Göteborg the 2007 season. But she hasn't managed to hold on to her place in the team after the big defensive reinforcements Göteborg made before this season.
Damfotboll.com: Byttorp förstärker på försvarssidan
Sunnanå has invited the Finnish teenage talent Tiia Tikkanen for a try-out. Tikkanen, who plays for TPS in the Finnish league, is on the Finnish U19 team and has also in spite of her age played with the U21's. Sunnanå's sport director Sören Gustafsson calls the offensive player "a future reinforcement".
Norra Västerbotten: Finsk stortalang provtränar med Sunnanå
Umeå IK has signed the replacements for manager Roland Arnqvist. Britta Åkerlund, who comes from a managerial position in a health care company and has extensive experience as a lower division player and referee, will take over the general manager duties while Lars Ekeberg will be responsible for sales, a new position.
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK har anställt sin nya klubbdirektör
Damfotboll.com: Byttorp förstärker på försvarssidan
Sunnanå has invited the Finnish teenage talent Tiia Tikkanen for a try-out. Tikkanen, who plays for TPS in the Finnish league, is on the Finnish U19 team and has also in spite of her age played with the U21's. Sunnanå's sport director Sören Gustafsson calls the offensive player "a future reinforcement".
Norra Västerbotten: Finsk stortalang provtränar med Sunnanå
Umeå IK has signed the replacements for manager Roland Arnqvist. Britta Åkerlund, who comes from a managerial position in a health care company and has extensive experience as a lower division player and referee, will take over the general manager duties while Lars Ekeberg will be responsible for sales, a new position.
Västerbottens Folkblad: UIK har anställt sin nya klubbdirektör
Belgian national team captain Femke Maes close to signing with Djurgården
Belgium's national team captain Femke Maes, who was awarded the Golden Shoe as the best player in the Dutch league 2007/08, seems to be close to signing for Djurgården. Belgian and Dutch media has it as a done deal already. In an interview with the football news-site voetbalkrant.com, Maes is looking forward to moving to Sweden and playing against Marta.
When I checked this with Djurgården's sport director Mikael Söderman, he said he has no knowledge about what Belgian media is writing. But they are talking to Maes and when and if there is an agreement, they will of course let us know about it at their website.
So let's say that all papers aren't signed yet and there might still be details to work out, but it looks very much like the 28 years old Femke Maes will play for Djurgården in July.
voetbalkrant.com: Femke Maes: "Nog steeds onwezenlijk dat ik tegen Marta ga spelen"
Tv Oost: Femke Maes verhuist naar Zweden (video)
When I checked this with Djurgården's sport director Mikael Söderman, he said he has no knowledge about what Belgian media is writing. But they are talking to Maes and when and if there is an agreement, they will of course let us know about it at their website.
So let's say that all papers aren't signed yet and there might still be details to work out, but it looks very much like the 28 years old Femke Maes will play for Djurgården in July.
voetbalkrant.com: Femke Maes: "Nog steeds onwezenlijk dat ik tegen Marta ga spelen"
Tv Oost: Femke Maes verhuist naar Zweden (video)
Some player news
Newcomers Kristianstads DFF has signed American player Alissa Oldenkamp, a midfielder who went to college at Arizona State. Oldenkamp will join the club at the beginning of the next transfer window, that opens July 1.
Bälinge's merited midfielder Joanna Lohman, a crucial part of their strategy to avoid relegation, has left the club. Already before she travelled to Sweden, she let the club know that she experienced signs of an old back injury. In Sweden the injury problems has continued. She hasn't been able to perform when she has played and she has been on and off the team during the spring. In late May she and the club concluded that playing professional ball wasn't the best way to deal with the injury. Bälinge is looking for a replacement, who in that case should arrive during the summer transfer window (July-August).
Not really football related, but still fun: Sweden and Djurgården star Victoria Svensson (who has impressed greatly in her appearences after coming back from injury recently) reveals in an interview at Djurgården's website that she and her partner are now happy parents to a little girl, who was borned May 30 and will be called Moa. She and her partner were, appearently very privately, married a year ago.
And while we're at it, some more gossip: the Umeå soccer moms Malin Moström, Anna Sjöström and Hanna Marklund appeared in a big interview in tabloid Expressen a few weeks ago (sorry, no link, appeared in print only). Malin and Anna, both moms to two months old girls, revealed that motherhood was carefully planned; quit football, work one year, get a baby. The work-one-year part probably prompted by the Swedish maternity leave regulations. Hanna on her side simply stated that "sometimes things just happens". Malin Moström will shortly move to Lugano in Switzerland, where husband Jesper has got a job coaching the local ice-hockey team.
And a little teaser: a Central European goalkeeper and an England forward has been the object of some interest from two of the top sides in Damallsvenskan. My sources here seems reliable, but it's too early to mention any names.