Alexis Monteith/Contributor

The Reggae Girlz scene has been buzzing with activity as several internationals found new clubs while others departed or were released from their previous teams.

Topping the charts of the Reggae Girlz transfer news this summer was the sensational signing of 22-year-old Jody Brown with Portuguese giant Benfica, marking the first professional contract of her career.

Chinyelu Asher signs for Mazatlán Femenil

Beyond Brown’s headline-grabbing move, veteran Reggae Girlz midfielder Chinyelu Asher is the most recent signing. Her deal with Mexican club Mazatlán Femenil was announced on July 11, after she completed the season with Portuguese side SCU Torreense.

The seasoned 30-year-old bolsters the Liga MX Femenil club with her experience, having represented Jamaica at the 2019 Women’s World Cup and the crucial 2022 Concacaf W Championship where the Reggae Girlz secured their spot at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Asher’s career has spanned continents, starting with her professional debut in 2016 for BIIK Shymken of Kazakhstan, where she competed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She then moved on to Colombian team Santa Fe, claiming a league title in 2017 and representing them in the South American continental Copa Libertadores tournament.

Asher’s journey continued with a NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) championship win with the Washington Spirit in 2021, before she took her talents to Europe, playing for AIK in Sweden (2022) before moving to SCU Torreense in Portugal (2023).

Mazatlán Femenil have added a number of young players to their roster for the 2024 Apertura tournament. It makes sense that the senior Asher would be brought in to balance youth with experience as the club makes a push to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their history.

Shania Hayles joins Newcastle United Women

Perhaps the most eye-catching transfer since Jody Brown joined Benfica was Shania Hayles’ July 3 move from Bristol City Women to Newcastle United Women. This generated interest due to the ambition of the Saudi Arabian–backed club.

With their sights set on the Women’s Super League (WSL), the top tier of English women’s football, Newcastle United’s women’s team are on a fast track to the top. Their ambition is clear after achieving back-to-back promotions, landing them in the second-tier English Women’s Championship this summer.

Despite a quiet season with Bristol City, who were relegated from the WSL, 24-year-old Shania Hayles impressed the year before when she bagged the club’s Golden Boot with 13 goals — a key factor in their Championship promotion.

Prior to her time at Bristol City, she scored 10 goals for Aston Villa Women in the 2019-20 season when she was considerably younger. That season saw Villa promoted to the WSL, but in the two years that followed Hayles did not perform as well in the top flight.

Still, Newcastle will be banking on Hayles’ experience. Having thrived in the Championship before, with two promotions under her belt from her time at different clubs, she can be a key asset in their own promotion fight.

At the age of 24 years, she is still developing her game and may be ready for the WSL when Newcastle get there.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith signs for Bristol City Women

Following Shania Hayles’ departure from Bristol City Women, another Jamaican talent, 21-year-old Lexi Lloyd-Smith, joined the club on July 8. Lloyd-Smith signed a two-year deal after leaving Southampton FC Women, where she spent the past two seasons.

Lloyd Smith is an Arsenal Academy graduate who also played college football in the USA at the University of South Alabama, preceded by stints at Chelsea Women and Charlton Athletic Women.

Bristol City will be aiming for a quick return to the WSL and this should provide an opportunity for the young winger to make her mark at the club.

Vyan Sampson switches clubs in Japan

Jamaican midfielder Vyan Sampson has switched clubs within Japan’s WE League. After signing with JEF United Chiba Ladies last year, Sampson moved to INAC Kobe Leonessa on July 8. The contract length remains undisclosed.

The 28-year-old featured for Jamaica at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and played for Heart of Midlothian W.F.C. in Scotland before making her move to Japan. She has also represented Charlton Athletic, Arsenal, West Ham, London City Lionesses and San Marino Academy.

Gabrielle Gayle begins her professional career

In a signing that went under the Jamaican media radar, Atlético De San Luis Femenil (San Luis Femenil) in Mexico secured Jamaican defender Gabrielle Gayle on June 15th in her first professional contract. The 23-year-old boasts over 50 games for the University of South Alabama and represented the Reggae Girlz in 2021.

In an official statement on its website the club said “upon her arrival to our team, Gabrielle expressed her happiness for the opportunity and said she hopes to quickly adapt to Mexican football and establish herself in professional soccer.”

Summer departures 

Our Today previously reported that San Luis Femenil announced the release of Trudi Carter on May 25. Just over a month later, Mexican club Tigres Femenil released Konya Plummer.

It was also reported by Our Today in early June that Paige Bailey-Gayle was released from her contract with Newcastle United Women after joining the club only months before in January.

On June 6, Reggae Girlz defender Chantelle Swaby announced her departure from French first-division club Fleury 91, while in late June Reggae Girlz Izzy Groves and Jade Bailey were released by English Women’s Championship side London City Lionesses. 

Another English Women’s Championship club, Charlton Athletic Women, announced on July 8 that Melissa Johnson had left the club following the expiration of her contract.

The next destinations for these Reggae Girlz remain unclear.