Were Arsenal women ever keen on making a signing this winter? Many Gooner women’s fans are wondering, especially with the latest WSL transfer updates.
Arsenal Women were rumoured to be interested in signing Winger Kerolin Nicoli but she has just joined Manchester City Women from North Carolina Courage (we understand on a free transfer), while defender Naomi Girma is headed to Chelsea from San Diego Wave for a record $1.1M transfer fee.
With these deals going through, Gooners are left frustrated. Girma was a player many expected Arsenal to break the bank for. She’s been on the radar for most Gooners, often mentioned in defensive target discussions (Jonas Eidevall has spoken of her, and Leah Williamson has also praised her). If we were willing to spend around 1 million euros for Keira Walsh last summer, what stopped us from hijacking Chelsea’s deal for Girma?
As for Kerolin, perhaps the club didn’t feel she was the right fit, but why remains unclear.
What’s certain is that our WSL title opponents are getting stronger while we remain unchanged, except for Kathrine Kuhl’s exit and Young Guns going out on loan.
One could argue that we didn’t need to splash millions on a center-back given our solid options in Katie Reid, Lotte Wubben Moy, Laia Codina, Leah Williamson, and Steph Catley – as well as the soon to return Amanda Ilestedt. However, Arsenal Women’s decision-makers should have invested in a winger, surely?
Renee Slegers says she’s okay with the squad as it is, but what else can she say? Bolstering our squad wouldn’t hurt, would it?
Personally, if we don’t sign Trinity Rodman from Washington Spirit and strengthen our squad for the title race, I’d be worried about the club’s ambitions.
Interestingly, Chelsea, according to journalist Tom Bogert, are also in for Rodman, but she shouldn’t slip off our radar.
🇺🇸 USWNT superstar Trinity Rodman is in the final year of her contract with the Washington Spirit and I’m told Chelsea and Arsenal are among the many clubs monitoring the situation.
Rodman, 22, has 46 caps with USWNT. Won 2024 Gold medal and 2021 NWSL title, among many honors. pic.twitter.com/7JzJRJkpWF
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 22, 2025
Last summer and this winter, Manchester City Women have strengthened their squad with key signings. Chelsea Women have just signed a world class defender. How do you compete with these two sides without matching their transfer ambitions?
Renee wants to take Arsenal to the next level, but to do that, we need to sign another Emily Fox or Mariona Caldentey type figure, in my humble..
What are your thoughts Gooners? Do you think we may get some exciting Arsenal transfer news before the window closes in one week? Do you think we should be adding to our squad?
Michelle M
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You’re right Michelle, if we don’t sign a top player like Rodman this January, I’m sure we won’t get close to touching distance with Chelsea and City
No. I’m not concerned that Arsenal have not made a ‘big name’ splash of cash in the transfer window.
The most significant signing imo is Renee Slegers. She has indicated her trust and belif in the staff and players we have.
None the less, there’s still 7 days left of the window and if Rodman comes in that would be good.
No.
It is a beautiful team we already have and Slegers is the key acquisition we needed.
i agree with the above two comments and i will tell you why ….1. there s an optimal squad size, that s where we are now, too few players is a problem but so is too many, we can only field 11 at a time, the rest sit and stew 2. squad depth is fine, but doesn t necessarily win titles, squad quality and good management is more important. i reckon Renee can win us silverware and could do even if we shed a couple of players 3. let Chelsea spend big money, meanwhile let Arsenal concentrate on how to beat them, it ll make their big spend look like a big flop 4 we got the best fans in town, even away from home, let s roar our existing Gunners on, and don t forget to cheer our bench and the tecnnical / coaching team too
Evan Potts,
Your last couple of lines was like a rallying call, and it almost inspired me to put a kit on.
But then I thought better of it. It’s a bit chilly to be fare.🤣😂😉👍
lol, yes but you could try it if you watching the game on TV in a warm lounge, good luck Arsenal ! i think we should win 3-0 with Meado. Russo and Caldentey to score amazingly good goals !!!
Well, Arsenal needed a great coach to manage this great team, but I hope the club has ambition and doesn’t stop there.
Chelsea have beaten us to the top transfers for years and it will not stop now.
Men and Women
They purchased titles for years with Abromovitch and Hayes
I think Hayes is influencing these changes at Chelsea. Girma turned down a hard-to-refuse offer from Lyon, so if Arsenal want to have the ambition of winning trophies they will have to use the money they have.
I strongly believe that we need a right winger who will take on defenders, and make for the byline, wingers like Cascarino, and Diani, both French internationals, Caitlin Foord, does it, and so does McKay