Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) has taken over responsibility for the Barclays Women's Super League and Barclays Women's Championship from The Football Association (FA).
Each club participating in these leagues - including Newcastle United Women, who won promotion to the Championship last season - will act as a shareholder in the new company. The completion of the agreement spearheads a new era in the sport, dedicated to driving growth and maximising potential, placing players and fans at its core.
Led by CEO Nikki Doucet, the new company is founded on a new vision and mission to transform women’s football by building the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women’s football club competition in the world for the players and fans of today and tomorrow.
Doucet said: "The next successful era of the women's professional game will be built on the foundations of collaboration and we are excited to work together with all stakeholders to drive transformational and sustainable growth across our leagues by leveraging the distinctive qualities, values and principles which exist in the women's game.
"Women's football in England has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years, marked by increased fan engagement, rising attendance at matches, and a surge in participation at all levels. We are fiercely committed to building on this momentum by creating a thriving landscape which prioritises the welfare and development of players, fosters and excites a vibrant fan community, and nurtures the sport's growth.
"As we embark on this exciting journey, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to The FA for its outstanding work in developing the sport. We look forward to building upon this solid foundation and elevating women's professional football in England to unprecedented levels."
Dawn Airey, Chair of the Women's Professional Leagues Limited Board of Directors said: "We are excited to harness the full potential of women's football. We know that with a unified vision and collaborative effort, we can shape an exhilarating future for women's football, inspiring and delighting both the current and next generation of players and fans."
Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive, added: "We are very proud of the growth that, together with the clubs, we have driven in the women's professional game. I would like to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to establish and evolve our leagues to be amongst the best in the world."
Women's Professional Leagues Limited will be supported by the Premier League through a cooperation and funding agreement. This includes a £20 million interest-free loan which will provide vital capital to build strong foundations and invest in areas such as recruitment and the development of long-term projects.
The Premier League will also offer extensive support and knowledge-sharing in a wide range of areas, including broadcasting, commercial and football operations. This is in addition to the £21 million the Premier League has invested into developing the women's and girls' game between 2022 and 2025.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: "This is a key moment in the development of the professional women’s game in England and we are pleased to be able to support Women's Professional Leagues Limited both financially and by providing expertise in a number of key areas.
"The Premier League is proud to develop the game at all levels and in recent years we have enhanced our support for women's and girls' football. This ranges from investing in the development of pathways for young players to support for the professional game. We look forward to being closely involved in this exciting period for women’s football."
