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Friday, October 2, 2026

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Financial confidence workshops for players

From this season, WSL Football’s league title partner Barclays will deliver a structured programme of financial confidence workshops with clubs across the Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2 focused on providing players with the confidence to make informed financial decisions during and beyond their playing careers.

The women’s professional game continues to grow, and increased investment and new minimum salaries have advanced its professionalisation. This meaningful progress means that players are navigating evolving employment structures and contractual situations which may cause financial uncertainty that could hamper performance on the pitch.

In research undertaken by WSL Football across both leagues, players described how short-term contracts, uncertainty around future earnings and career length, differences in financial circumstances, and the need to plan for life beyond football while continuing to perform at the highest level can create significant pressures.

For women in particular, these pressures can be compounded by additional considerations such as maternity and family planning, as well as the potential financial consequences of balancing these with a relatively short sporting career.

To tackle this, Barclays is working with WSL Football to empower players with more financial confidence - helping them understand present and future financial demands.

The workshops have been developed in response to what players said they need, tackling topics including day-to-day banking, mortgages, investing, budgeting and keeping safe from scams - all highlighted as important by players. They will be delivered by an expert Barclays Financial Guide and coordinated by Performance wellbeing leads at Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2 clubs. These newly mandated roles have been introduced across both leagues to support players' wellbeing and holistic development, helping them to thrive on the pitch while developing the skills, confidence and opportunities to prepare for life and careers beyond football.

By embedding financial confidence into player development and encouraging open conversations around money, the programme can help players build confidence and support more sustainable performance.

Barclays offers a range of financial resources through its Money Confidence Hub to support UK adults in developing long term financial resilience. This programme is another example of how Barclays helps people build confidence and navigate important life moments with greater clarity, supporting them to make informed financial decisions for the future.

Speaking about the programme, WSL Football’s Performance Wellbeing Lead, Dr Jane Holden, said: “Financial confidence is part of creating sustainable careers in women’s professional football. Our research showed considerable financial awareness and vigilance amongst players, but we need to recognise the unique context women players are making financial decisions and giving them relevant knowledge, confidence and support to navigate that environment.

“As part of WSL Football’s wider Performance Wellbeing initiative, the programme demonstrates our commitment to listening to players, using research to understand what they need, and working with expert partners such as Barclays to turn those insights into meaningful, practical support across the game.”

Tom Corbett, Managing Director of Sponsorship and Client Experience at Barclays, added: “As the women’s game grows, the support around players needs to grow with it. Through our partnership with WSL Football, we’ve listened to players and combined their insight with Barclays’ financial expertise to create practical guidance that reflects the realities of their careers. By helping players feel more informed and confident about the financial decisions they face, we want to support them in planning for their future - both during and beyond their playing careers.”

Maimee Titmuss-Morris, Senior Performance Lifestyle Manager at Arsenal Women said: “Working closely with players gives you a real understanding of the wide range of financial situations they experience, and how those can change throughout a career. We can significantly help here by providing players with the confidence, knowledge and support to ask questions, access trusted information, and make informed decisions that benefit them both now and in the future. Having accessible, independent financial wellbeing support is incredibly important, and this programme provides another meaningful way to start those conversations, empower players, and support their development not only as footballers, but as people.”

Beth Morrell, Performance Wellbeing Lead at Ipswich Town commented: "Within my role as Performance Wellbeing Lead at Ipswich Town, this has been a really important initiative with the WSL and Barclays, to best support players financial wellbeing, understanding their pay slips, tax and budgeting to bring that holistic support into the women's game to support them both on and off the pitch".