The FA Board has approved a package of reforms to the FA Women's National League (WNL) from the 2027-28 season, designed to strengthen the women's football pyramid, raise standards across the league, and improve the development pathway for young players.
The reforms are part of our long-term ambition to futureproof the women's game by increasing investment into the FA WNL, better preparing clubs to compete in the professional game, and creating more opportunities for talented young players to develop in senior football.
The changes will see FA WNL clubs receive central funding for the first time, alongside the introduction of WNL club academies and enhancements to the loan market to encourage clubs from the professional game to loan their players to clubs in Tiers 3 and 4. Four Professional Game Academy (PGA) sides will also be given the opportunity to compete in Tier 3 without eligibility for promotion. The chosen PGAs will be assessed against clear criteria which will be developed over the coming months with key stakeholders. The model will be reviewed annually to ensure it is delivering against its objectives and the impact is monitored.
The reforms follow an extensive consultation process with clubs and stakeholders and comes as data continues to show that young English players receive significantly fewer competitive minutes than their counterparts across Europe's leading leagues. The reforms are intended to address this challenge while simultaneously strengthening the competitiveness, quality and sustainability of the Women's National League.
Sue Day, Director of Women’s Football at The FA, said: "The women's game has reached an important moment in its development, and these changes are about ensuring it continues to thrive for decades to come. We need to take proactive action now to address some of the key challenges we’re facing. For the game to continue moving forward, the FA Women's National League must evolve alongside the professional game, and we need to create more opportunities for talented young English players to develop in senior football. Getting that balance right is essential to the long-term success of the national team, which in turn fuels the growth and visibility of the game at every level.
“The FA Women's National League sits at the heart of the women's football pyramid and has a unique identity that we value enormously. We'd like to thank the clubs and stakeholders for their engagement throughout the consultation process, and we look forward to continuing to work together as these changes are implemented."
