The second round of Women’s Champions League qualifying gets under way on Wednesday with several notable teams entering, among them Manchester United, Brann, Glasgow City and Roma. The winners of Wednesday’s semi-finals will progress to Saturday’s finals and play for a place in mid-September’s final round of qualifying. Here are eight players to keep an eye on this week.
Julia Zigiotti (Manchester United): With Fridolina Rolfö continuing to recover from the injury that hampered her at Euro 2025, plenty of eyes will be on her compatriot and now club-mate Zigiotti. The Swede was United’s other marquee signing this summer and brings a wealth of experience. The tenacious defensive midfielder arrived after a double-winning season with Bayern Munich and was at the heart of her country’s run to the quarter-finals in Switzerland. Zigiotti will be familiar to Women’s Super League fans from her two-year spell at Brighton. Her key qualities lie in her ability to link the transition from defence to attack as well as her quality in the press and work ethic. Her introduction will perhaps allow Dominique Janssen to return to her more natural defensive position.
Riola Xhemaili (PSV): The midfielder wrote her name into the Swiss football history books this summer with a 92nd-minute equaliser against Finland that sent the hosts to their first European Championship quarter-final. Xhemaili made a permanent move to PSV after a successful loan from Wolfsburg last season and will be looking to take another big scalp with the Eredivisie side when they face United on Wednesday. She scored 10 goals and provided six assists in the last campaign and has become an integral part of Roeland ten Berge’s side.
Oona Sevenius (Rosengård): Euro 2025 spectators will remember Sevenius’s impact in an exciting Finland team. Her beautiful finish against Norway on her first start at a major tournament and the celebration that followed marked the 21-year-old as one to watch on the European stage. After some time in Italy and a loan at FC Como, the forward signed for Rosengård in January and has made 13 appearances this season. The Swedish team will be favourites to come through an opening tie with North Macedonia’s Ljuboten.
Signe Gaupset (Brann): The midfielder’s career has been on a steep upward trajectory since she broke into Brann’s side in 2021 and shows no sign of slowing. One of the best youngsters in Switzerland this summer, the 20-year-old Norwegian produced a memorable display against Iceland, scoring twice and providing two assists. Gaupset is the jewel in Brann’s crown with 11 goals and eight assists registered in this season’s Toppserien and she will be looking forward to the challenge of breaking down Inter’s defence. Some of the top clubs in Europe will be trying to prise her away from the Bergen-based team, with whom in March she signed a new contract until 2027.
Signe Gaupset (left) celebrates after scoring for Norway against Iceland at the Euros. She ended with two goals and two assists. Photograph: Peter Klaunzer/EPA
Alayah Pilgrim (Roma): After significant battles with injury last season, the Switzerland international recovered to finish the campaign with Roma and earn her selection for Pia Sundhage’s Euro 2025 squad. The 22-year-old had to settle for being an impact player from the bench but made her mark on her major tournament bow with a goal in the 2-0 victory over Iceland. A forward with pace to burn, she is a problem for any defence and will be relishing the opportunity to run at the backline of Aktobe, a club from Kazakhstan.
Smilla Holmberg (Hammarby): The right-back had a summer of contrasting fortunes. The joy of her standout performance and goal in Sweden’s 4-1 demolition of Germany was followed by the agony of missing the penalty that sent England to the semi-finals. The dynamic 18-year-old is a star in the making with the potential to become the complete modern full-back. Her emergence at Hammarby has been sensational and she is one of the side’s most productive players in the Damallsvenskan this season.
Roisin Molloy (Athlone Town): The Irish club’s inaugural appearance in Champions League qualifying brought a 4-0 victory over Cardiff City last month and the 23-year-old Molloy was a standout performer with two goals and an assist. The right-winger has been catching the eye domestically since signing for Athlone in 2021. She made 18 starts last season and scored five goals as Colin Fortune’s side won their first league title and is continuing in a rich vein of form. The quality of the seasoned Icelandic champions Breiðablik will be the next challenge for the exciting midfielder.
Erín McLaughlin (Glasgow City): The Republic of Ireland international moved to Glasgow on a three-year deal this summer after a season with Portsmouth. The 22-year-old midfielder has shown strong potential, her vision, technical ability and energy shining through in her performances at Peamount United and, last season, in the Championship. She has caught the eye of Carla Ward, who called her up for Ireland’s summer friendlies against the USA.
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