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Friday, June 5, 2026

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Airbnb and WSL Football partner to launch fund

With the summer transfer window just weeks away, Airbnb will support players with moves to the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Super League 2 clubs through a new multi-year partnership with WSL Football as its official accommodation and unique experiences partner.

Relocation is one of the most challenging, yet least visible pressures in professional football. A sample of players* demonstrated that players in some cases spent up to £1000 to cover costs associated with accommodation. To support players through the transition and help them find a home on new ground, today, Airbnb and WSL Football are announcing a £1 million Player Accommodation Fund, available to players across every transfer window over three years, providing short-term accommodation when they need it most.  

According to a sample of players* who expressed their views on this topic, it was highlighted that relocation is the most challenging part of the transfer window. They added that their daily life and routines are most disrupted when moving clubs, with seven or fewer days to move. Eligible players will be able to access the fund directly through WSL Football during transfer windows, giving them a home as they relocate between clubs and settle into new teams, new cities and new communities.

Support during transfer moves differs across the game, with Airbnb and WSL Football committed to changing that with the offer of a consistent baseline through accommodation, so that regardless of which club a player joins, they have what they need to settle and perform. Encouragingly, relocation support is an area clubs are actively investing in.

As interest in the women’s game continues to rise, with the Barclays WSL witnessing attendance grow by 31% since 2022/23 seasons up until now, increasing further to 65% for the Barclays WSL2**, and Airbnb data showing an increase in bookings over 15% YOY for stays over the last weekend fixtures for the 2025/26 season***.

Former England international Fara Williams said: “One of the major issues when moving between clubs is finding suitable accommodation during the transition period. During one of my moves, I had to initially stay with the manager until I was able to secure permanent accommodation, because at that time, players were often not paid enough to comfortably rent suitable housing immediately. As a result, we frequently relied on informal arrangements, such as staying with friends, team mates, or club staff.

In my own experience, I also had periods where I was effectively living out of a suitcase, which meant I had to pay for storage for my belongings. An arrangement that was far from ideal and added unnecessary stress. This is where initiatives like the Airbnb Player Accommodation Fund can make a real difference. By providing safe, short-term accommodation options, players are able to settle more quickly and focus on their performance on the pitch, rather than off-field logistical challenges.”

Lisa Marcais, General Manager for Northern Europe and MEA at Airbnb, said: “The transfer window is a huge moment in a player's life that can cause disruption. The Player Accommodation Fund is our practical commitment to helping with some of the associated costs. This partnership goes beyond the transfer window - we want to elevate the women's game, and celebrate the fans that come together around a shared passion. BWSL and BWSL2 fans regularly make weekends of away fixtures, travelling to new cities to follow their teams, and helping people feel at home somewhere new is what Airbnb does best. We’re excited to be part of the women's football movement and support the game, fans, and community on and off the pitch."

Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer, WSL Football said: “We aim to put the players and fans at the heart of everything we do and the partnership with Airbnb showcases this. Building an away fan culture is integral to the growth of the game and Airbnb want to support our clubs and fans with this, from accommodation through to experiences.

“And as the transfer market continues to evolve, we also want to support players and clubs by removing a potential area of friction when players find themselves in new locations for the first time. With two more clubs in the BWSL for the 2026/27 season, we expect to see even more movement this summer.”

Together, the partnership aims to make it easier for players to settle into new clubs and for supporters to stay connected to their teams wherever they play. The initiative builds on Airbnb’s growing commitment to women’s football globally, including its role as Official Supporter of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ , extending that support from the international stage to the day-to-day realities of local players.

Airbnb has a long track record of economically empowering communities. As part of its Worldwide Olympic Partnership, Airbnb launched the Airbnb Athlete Travel Grant, supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This program offered up to 500 athletes a year $2,000 USD in Airbnb promotional credit to use for training, qualification, and other travel accommodations for eight years, totaling $8 million in direct support across the life of the partnership.  

* Based on an anonymous survey of WSL Football players, conducted between 28 April and 8 May 2026 - 14 respondents.

** According to official WSL Football data.

*** Based on Airbnb internal UK search data comparing bookings made between 25 July – 2 August 2025 (following the announcement of the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League fixtures), for check-in between 24–26 April 2026 (the last fixtures weekend of the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League) in destinations hosting final fixtures, against equivalent time periods in the 2024/25.