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Stina Blackstenius has been at Arsenal since 2021 and scored the winning goal in the Women's Champions League final last season A record number of Swedish players are in the Women's Super League this season - but why are clubs so keen to sign them? English players aside, there are more Swedes in the league than there are players from any other nation with 23 in total and seven of the 12 WSL teams represented. Many of these players past and present have made a huge impact, with Stina Blackstenius' winning goal for Arsenal in the Women's Champions League final last season a prime example. Even this season, newcomers such as Fridolina Rolfo, a summer signing for Manchester United, have made a huge impact. Her six goals have helped to establish her as a fan favourite. The latest episode of BBC World's Service's More than the Score podcast takes a look at the growing trend of signing Swedish players. In January, nine Swedish players joined English clubs, with seven moving to WSL top-flight sides and two to clubs in WSL 2. Most arrived from the Damallsvenskan which, founded in 1988, represents the top tier of women's professional football in Sweden. The season runs from March to November, meaning WSL sides can target players during their off-season, when many are free-agents. The Damallsvenskan is considered one of the world's premier leagues. It features 14 clubs and historically places a focus on technical development, often acting as a key competition for nurturing international talent. Four players were signed from last season's title winners Hacken, two from Hammarby and one from Rosengard. However, the players signed have to show proven quality. "There are big restrictions on the players WSL clubs can sign as they have to meet the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria as foreign players, " explained Emma Sanders, BBC Sport's women's football news reporter. "This is to secure work permits in the United Kingdom. "The criteria covers things such as Champions League experience, international caps and the quality of the league the selling club plays in. "Scandinavian players often meet the criteria more easily. " In the Damallsvenskan, rules focus on homegrown players and teams must have a minimum number of Swedish players in their squad, often nine out of around 20. The aim is to ensure development, effectively limiting the number of non-Swedes and therefore making it the perfect feeder league to the top teams in the world. Manchester United boss Marc Skinner brought in Hanna Lundkvist and Ellen Wangerheim during the January window and believes the Damallsvenskan acts as a microcosm of women's football. "They play many games at a young age so they learn to make mistakes, " he said. "Their exposure is at a high level and that gives them a head start into that early pressure. Dealing with that and the resilience they learn allows them to come and play here. " Swedish football journalist Amanda Zaza says another attractive characteristic of her country's footballers is their approach to the game. "They have an intense playing style, wanting to go forward and that fits attacking football, " she said. "They also play well in multiple different positions so you can use them however you want. " Manchester United's Hanna Lundkvist, 23, was one of nine Swedes to move to England in January The arrival of so many Swedish players certainly boosts the quality of the WSL. However, there are concerns that with the introduction of big international names from European leagues, there could be less room for the development of new English talent. Skinner believes some English players might have to look outside the WSL for opportunities. "English players might need to go and challenge themselves abroad and then come back - and that might be another way of bringing them through, " he said. There is also an argument that losing so many players to the WSL hurts the Damallsvenskan, with many fans disillusioned by the number of departures. This is amplified by the league also losing some of its international talent such as Norway duo Julie Blakstad and Anna Josendal to the WSL. "A lot of people watch this league, " Zaza said. "They have followed some of the players for years because they've belonged to a team since they were kids, and they see how great these players are. Obviously, you want them to stay in your team. "There are a lot of fans that aren't very happy with Hammarby, for example for letting Blakstad and Wangerheim go [to Tottenham and Manchester United]. "These are really good players and they're at the centre of their teams. " Want to hear more on this topic? Listen to the BBC Sounds episode below. 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