The Women’s Super League will be expanded to 20 teams from the 2015/16 season.

Currently, the WSL has two leagues. The first league consists of eight teams while the second consists of 10.

The two new teams will be taken from the new-look Women’s Premier League from the 2014-15 season, which starts next month.

One club will join the WSL 2 in 2016, with the next team joining the following season.

FA director of women’s football Kelly Simmons said: “This is a real milestone in the development of women’s football in England.

“When we launched the FA WSL in 2011, it was always our aim that the elite women’s division would be supported by a viable, sustainable pathway from the winter football pyramid.

“Expanding the FA WSL was one of our longer-term aims. 

“We made a commitment to FA WPL clubs in January that we would look at the possibility and potential timescales of doing that and it’s great that we have been able to confirm this for the start of the season.

“The new bigger FA WPL will provide a strong, sustainable structure.”