Last night Everton Women signed Zara Kramzar on loan with an obligation to buy from fellow Friedkin Group-owned club Roma before parting company with manager Brian Sorensen this morning
Everton Women reportedly broke their transfer record to sign Zara Kramzar - just hours before the sacking of manager Brian Sorensen.
Kramzar arrived at Goodison Park last night (Tuesday) just before the transfer window for the Women's Super League closed. She arrives on loan from Roma, who like Everton are owned by the Friedkin Group, with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. According to The Athletic, that will cost the Blues a club-record fee of £250,000 plus add-ons.
The highly rated 20-year-old becomes the WSL’s first Slovenian player but will be stepping into a dressing room dealing with wholesale change.
Ninth-placed Everton have sacked Sorensen three days after their first home win of the season - a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
The late triumph followed three straight defeats in a league campaign in which the Blues have only recorded three wins from 14 games.
Instead, Kramzar will be greeted by Everton Under-18s coach Scott Phelan, who will replace Sorensen as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Backroom staff Stephen Neligan and Ashley Tootle have also departed their roles with Everton Women.
Despite the team's poor form, especially at home, the timing of the announcement came as a surprise, having brought in Kramzar.
Everton CEO Angus Kinnear said: “Sunday’s first win of the season at Goodison Park was important, but it has become evident that a change of direction is necessary to ensure the progression on the pitch we are all striving for.”
Kramzar is similarly looking towards the future. Speaking to evertontv, she said: “I would like to take Everton as high as I can and help the team. Maybe we can achieve some trophies in the future.”
The Slovenia international has been signed on loan from Serie A Femminilie league leaders Roma, who recalled her from Como, where she had been playing on loan since 2024.
Kramzar made her international debut in November 2022 and helped AS Roma lift their inaugural league trophy in 2022/23.
Ahead of the news of Sorensen’s departure, the 20-year-old said: “It is nice to be the first Slovenian in the WSL. I am excited to show on the pitch what I can do now.
“I enjoyed playing in Italy but I’ve always wanted to go to England. I think it is the best league in the world. I am excited to see the level here.
“I like to play in big stadiums. I am looking forward to it and to score goals in front of the fans and to leave everything on the pitch for them and for the club.”
Kramzar will wear the number 21 and becomes Everton’s third and final signing of the window with Manchester United full-back Hannah Blundell and Arsenal midfielder Laila Harbert already in on loan.
Despite breaking their transfer record, Everton’s net spend remains the lowest in the WSL and they’ll face up against big spenders London City Lionesses on Sunday without Sorensen at the helm for the first time since 2022.