The Women’s Super League transfer window slammed shut on Thursday night, with Manchester United fans exuberant after their side’s dramatic, late addition of three international players, while several other clubs were left disappointed after failing to sign anybody on deadline day, or even in the entire window.

Here Telegraph Sport assesses each club’s business – or lack of – and picks out the winners and losers of an intriguing month off the field.

Arsenal

League position: 1st

Players in: Stina Blackstenius (striker, free transfer from BK Hacken), Laura Wienroither (defender, undisclosed fee from Hoffenheim), Rafaelle Souza (defender, signed from Changchun Zhuoyue)

Players out: Viktoria Schnaderbeck (defender, on loan to Tottenham), Anna Patten (defender, on loan to Aston Villa), Natalia Negri (goalkeeper, dual-registration with Charlton), Halle Houssein (midfielder, dual-registration with West Ham), Teyah Goldie (forward, dual-registration with Watford), Daisy Ackerman (winger, on loan to Bridgwater United)

Telegraph Sport window rating: 4.5/5

Arsenal were delighted to outdo some of their rivals to sign Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius, who was arguably the best out-of-contract player in the world this winter. She gives the north Londoners another clinical option up front and – perhaps just as crucially – by signing her they stopped her going to strengthen either Manchester United or Tottenham, who are also understood to have attempted to sign her.

The astute acquisition of experienced Brazil centre-back Rafaelle Souza is a huge boost to their backline and she has been impressive in her two performances in Arsenal colours so far, and Austria’s Laura Wienroither also played well in Thursday’s victory over Brighton.

Arsenal have important work ahead of them to attempt to persuade star striker Vivianne Miedema to sign a new deal rather than leaving on a free transfer this summer – with PSG and Barcelona both hoping to sign the Holland striker – but Jonas Eidevall’s team were boosted by being able to secure a new contract for England centre-back Leah Williamson this month, another fans favourite.

Chelsea

League position: 2nd

Players in: Alsu Abdullina (defender, undisclosed fee from Lokomotiv Moscow)

Players out: Jorja Fox (defender, on loan to Charlton), Carly Telford (goalkeeper, to San Diego Wave for an undisclosed fee)

Telegraph Sport window rating: 2.5/5

Russia defender Alsu Abdullina is a good long-term prospect for Chelsea, and their only acquisition of this window, but it is understood they are planning to do the vast majority of their business in the summer.

Emma Hayes already has a very stable squad so there was no pressing need to pay over the odds to add anybody quickly in January, however, the team still does need more defensive reinforcements soon.

The best news of this winter for the defending WSL champions came in November, when Sam Kerr signed a new two-year contract extension, keeping one of the very best players in the world at the club until at least the summer of 2024.

Manchester United

League position: 3rd

Players in: Diane Caldwell (defender, free transfer from North Carolina Courage), Jade Moore (midfielder, from Orlando Pride), Signe Bruun (forward, on loan from Lyon)

Players out: None

Telegraph Sport window rating: 4/5

After looking like they might go through the entire window without signing anybody, Manchester United pulled three rabbits out of the hat in the final hours of a dramatic deadline day, to the delight of the supporters.

The arrival of Denmark’s footballer of the year Bruun on loan until the end of the season is a major coup for Marc Skinner’s team, and will go down as one of the highest-profile moves that has ever been pulled off on a WSL deadline day. There was also good news for Manchester United before Christmas when 22-year-old England forward Ella Toone signed a new deal at the club until 2025.

Perhaps the sole disappointment for this January window for Skinner’s team, however, will be that they missed out on signing Blackstenius, who chose Arsenal instead. And, while the addition of Signe Bruun could well prove to be a masterstroke, it is only a loan for the rest of the campaign, whereas Blackstenius is now Arsenal’s player long-term.

Tottenham Hotspur

League position: 4th

Players in: Evaliina Summanen (midfielder, undisclosed fee from Kristianstads), Viktoria Schnaderbeck (defender, on loan from Arsenal)

Players out: None

Telegraph Sport window rating: 3/5

Tottenham will be pleased to have added Austria defender Viktoria Schnaderbeck on loan from neighbours Arsenal on deadline day, with that move being enabled by Rafaelle Souza’s move to Arsenal, and Schnaderbeck will add more international quality to a Tottenham backline which has already been fairly watertight this season.

Finland’s Evaliina Summanen comes with good pedigree and has signed an 18-month deal, but this window did not deliver the fireworks that some Tottenham fans might have been hoping for. There may be some disappointment that they were not able to attract Blackstenius to Hotspur Way, which would likely have hugely enhanced their prospects of qualifying for Europe, however, Rachel Williams and Jessica Naz are having good seasons at the moment.

Manchester City

League position: 5th

Players in: Julie Blakstad (midfielder, undisclosed fee from Rosenborg)

Players out: Jill Scott (midfielder, on loan to Aston Villa)

Telegraph Sport window rating: 3.5/5

Agreeing new deals with England trio Lauren Hemp, Steph Houghton and Esme Morgan will go down as the most important work done by Manchester City during this window, and the addition of 20-year-old Norway hotshot Julie Blakstad has been described by Scandinavian journalists who have followed her career as a “great” piece of business.

Manchester City had been expected to sign a goalkeeper this month, which has never materialised, however, sources have said the management team were suitably impressed by the performances of young goalkeeper Khiara Keating in recent games, that they were reassured enough not to buy a keeper just for the sake of it.

England No 1 Ellie Roebuck is also nearing a return to match fitness, which will provide Gareth Taylor’s team with another big boost in the coming weeks, as they continue to climb back up the table strongly following their fairly disastrous, injury-hit start to the campaign.