TITLE sponsor Barclays and the new company overseeing the top two tiers of English women’s football have agreed to the biggest deal in the history of the domestic women’s game.

The renewed investment, covering both the Women’s Super League and Championship, is in the region of £45 million across three years starting from 2025.

This is the first season the WSL and Championship have moved out from under the FA umbrella, operating under a new, independent, club-owned company called Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL).

WPLL CEO Nikki Doucet said: “This record multiyear investment demonstrates long-term commitment and is important because it provides positive endorsement for what we are trying to accomplish.”

When Barclays became title sponsor of the Women’s Super League in 2019, it was the biggest investment ever made by a brand into women’s sport in Britain.

The WSL has experienced significant growth since, especially in the wake of the Lionesses’ triumph at Euro 2022.

According to Barclays data, the league now attracts 3.2 million followers, with average attendance at matches up 283 per cent since the 2021-22 season.

The bank has also renewed its partnership with the Premier League, remaining official banking partner until 2029, and extended its partnership with the Football Association for a further three years to 2028, continuing its support for the Barclays Girls’ Football School Partnerships programme.

The Barclays group has come under intense fire, particularly over the last year, because of its investment in Israel’s arms trade and fossil fuel industries, specifically its shareholdings in Elbit Systems — Israel’s largest weapons firm.

Protesters targeted the bank earlier this month for a wave of demonstrations led by Palestine Action across Britain, which was part of an ongoing campaign hitting Barclays branches.

And today was the first anniversary of the protesters’ day of mass action blockading Barclays banks across Britain.