Arsenal Women have added seven players and confirmed 12 senior departures during a substantial overhaul of Renée Slegers’ squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Georgia Stanway, Selina Cerci, Géraldine Reuteler, Ona Batlle, Lisa Baum, Isabella Damm and Misa Rodríguez have all arrived in north London. The incoming group gives Arsenal two new goalkeepers, a Champions League-winning full-back, two established international midfielders and additional options across the front line.
The changes extend well beyond new arrivals. Beth Mead, Katie McCabe, Manuela Zinsberger, Victoria Pelova and Laia Codina are among the experienced players to have left, while several younger players have moved permanently or on loan.
Arsenal have balanced those departures by agreeing new two-year contracts with Stina Blackstenius, Steph Catley, Leah Williamson and Caitlin Foord. That leaves an established core around which Slegers can integrate a considerably changed group.
The club’s business may not be finished. Slegers has indicated that Arsenal remain active in the transfer market, so this page will be updated if further deals are completed.
Last updated: 29 August 2026. Contract lengths described as “reported” or “understood” have not been formally disclosed by Arsenal.
Arsenal Women’s 2026 summer transfer window at a glance
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Permanent arrivals | 7 |
| Permanent departures and contract expiries | 11 |
| Players sent on loan | 1 |
| Contract renewals | 4 |
Arsenal Women’s 2026 transfer
Every Arsenal Women signing in summer 2026
| Player | Position | Previous club | Contract information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Stanway | Midfielder | Bayern Munich | Reported three years, with a one-year option |
| Selina Cerci | Forward | TSG Hoffenheim | Understood to be two years, with a one-year option |
| Géraldine Reuteler | Midfielder | Eintracht Frankfurt | Understood to be four years |
| Ona Batlle | Defender | Barcelona | Understood to be four years, with a one-year option |
| Lisa Baum | Forward | RB Leipzig | Understood to be three years, with a one-year option |
| Isabella Damm | Goalkeeper | Brøndby IF | Not disclosed |
| Misa Rodríguez | Goalkeeper | Real Madrid | Not disclosed |
Arsenal Women’s 2026 transfer
Georgia Stanway returns to the WSL
Stanway became Arsenal’s first signing of the summer when she joined following the expiry of her Bayern Munich contract. ESPN reported that the England midfielder signed for three years, with Arsenal holding an option for a fourth.
The 27-year-old returns to England after four seasons in Germany. She won four consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles with Bayern and brings extensive WSL experience from her seven years at Manchester City.
Her arrival gives Slegers a midfielder capable of contributing on both sides of the ball. Stanway can operate deeper, play as an eight or move into more advanced positions, providing an experienced option as Arsenal manage the long-term evolution of their midfield.
Selina Cerci adds another central attacking option
Arsenal signed Cerci from Hoffenheim after the German international scored 34 goals in 47 appearances across two seasons with the Bundesliga club. The striker has reportedly agreed a two-year contract with an option for another 12 months.
Cerci strengthens a centre-forward group that already contains Alessia Russo and Blackstenius. Her arrival should allow Arsenal to vary their attacking combinations and distribute minutes across four competitions without relying on one striker profile.
The move also separates the replacement of Mead’s output across several players. Cerci is primarily a central forward, while Baum offers a more natural wide option and Reuteler can contribute between midfield and attack.
Géraldine Reuteler joins after eight years in Frankfurt
Reuteler moved to Arsenal after the conclusion of a long spell with Eintracht Frankfurt. The Switzerland international is understood to have signed a four-year contract.
Although Arsenal announced her as a midfielder, Reuteler’s value lies partly in her flexibility. She can operate as a box-to-box midfielder, in a more advanced central role or from a wider starting position.
That versatility gives Slegers several ways to reshape the midfield following Pelova’s departure. Reuteler can complement Stanway’s intensity and defensive contribution while also helping Arsenal connect midfield with their front line.
Ona Batlle strengthens both full-back positions
Batlle returned to the WSL after three seasons with Barcelona. The Spain international is understood to have joined on a four-year deal with an option for an additional season.
The 27-year-old can play on either side of the defence and has previously competed in England with Manchester United. Her arrival is particularly significant following McCabe’s move to Chelsea and the departures of Codina, Peacock and Jenna Nighswonger.
Batlle adds ball progression, overlapping runs and the ability to move into central areas during possession. Her positional flexibility also allows Slegers to use different combinations with Catley, Emily Fox and Taylor Hinds.
Lisa Baum arrives as a long-term attacking investment
Lisa Baum joined from RB Leipzig after establishing herself in the Frauen-Bundesliga. Arsenal describe the 19-year-old as a winger, while her contract is understood to run for three years with an option for a fourth.
The Germany youth international is the youngest of Arsenal’s senior summer signings. She brings direct running and one-against-one ability to a squad that lost one of its most established wide forwards in Mead.
Baum should not be expected to replace Mead’s experience by herself. Her signing instead gives Arsenal another specialist wide player who can develop alongside Foord, Chloe Kelly and Olivia Smith.
Isabella Damm joins Arsenal’s goalkeeper group
Damm signed from Brøndby after progressing into the Danish club’s senior side. Arsenal have not disclosed the length of the 18-year-old goalkeeper’s contract.
Her move represents a longer-term addition rather than a straightforward replacement for Zinsberger. Damm joins a goalkeeper group containing Daphne van Domselaar, Anneke Borbe and fellow new arrival Rodríguez.
Working within that group should provide the Danish goalkeeper with time to develop while Arsenal assess how responsibilities are divided across domestic and European competitions.
Misa Rodríguez arrives from Real Madrid
Rodríguez completed Arsenal’s seventh signing of the summer after leaving Real Madrid. The club have not announced her contract length.
The Spain international spent six seasons in Madrid, became club captain and established herself as one of Liga F’s most experienced goalkeepers. She has twice won the Zamora Trophy for the lowest goals-per-game ratio in the league.
Her signing creates genuine senior competition with Van Domselaar. Slegers highlighted Rodríguez’s presence, communication and technical qualities when Arsenal announced the transfer.
Every permanent Arsenal departure in summer 2026
| Player | Position | Destination | Type of departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naomi Williams | Goalkeeper | No club confirmed | Contract expired |
| Katie McCabe | Defender | Chelsea | Permanent |
| Manuela Zinsberger | Goalkeeper | Borussia Dortmund | Permanent |
| Beth Mead | Forward | Manchester City | Permanent |
| Laia Codina | Defender | West Ham United | Permanent |
| Victoria Pelova | Midfielder | Tottenham Hotspur | Permanent |
| Niamh Peacock | Defender | West Ham United | Permanent |
| Rosa Kafaji | Midfielder/forward | London City Lionesses | Permanent |
| Laila Harbert | Midfielder | San Diego Wave | Permanent |
| Jenna Nighswonger | Defender/midfielder | Bay FC | Permanent |
| Vivienne Lia | Forward | Eintracht Frankfurt | Permanent |
Arsenal Women’s 2026 transfer
Senior figures leave north London
The most visible departures are Mead and McCabe, who both left after long spells at Arsenal.
Beth Mead joined Manchester City after completing nine seasons in north London. She left as one of Arsenal’s leading WSL contributors, having played a central role in the club’s domestic and European campaigns.
Katie McCabe’s move to Chelsea ended an Arsenal career spanning more than a decade. The Republic of Ireland captain made 305 appearances for the club and leaves a substantial gap in experience, availability and positional versatility on the left.
Manuela Zinsberger’s transfer to Borussia Dortmund completes another major change. The Austria international had been with Arsenal since 2019, but the additions of Rodríguez and Damm mean the club will enter the new season with a reorganised goalkeeper department.
Pelova and Codina make permanent WSL moves
Victoria Pelova has joined Tottenham after three-and-a-half years with Arsenal. The Netherlands midfielder returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury during her final seasons at the club but faced significant competition for minutes in a crowded midfield.
Her move across north London gives Tottenham a technically strong midfielder entering her prime years. For Arsenal, the arrivals of Stanway and Reuteler change the profile and balance of the options available to Slegers.
Laia Codina joined West Ham after three seasons at Arsenal. The Spain international’s departure reduces the senior centre-back depth behind Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy, although Catley can also play centrally.
West Ham have also signed Niamh Peacock. Her permanent departure gives the 20-year-old an opportunity to establish herself at senior level after progressing through Arsenal’s academy.
Kafaji, Nighswonger and three academy players move on
Rosa Kafaji completed a permanent transfer to London City Lionesses after spending the previous season on loan at Brighton. Her route into Arsenal’s starting side had become increasingly difficult following further investment in midfield and attack.
Jenna Nighswonger returned to the NWSL with Bay FC. The United States international also spent part of her Arsenal career away on loan, and her departure coincides with the addition of Batlle as a senior full-back option.
Harbert joined San Diego Wave, Lia moved to Eintracht Frankfurt and Williams left following the expiry of her contract. No new club has yet been confirmed for Williams.
These departures underline a broader change in the route available to Arsenal’s academy players. Permanent moves can provide a clearer pathway to senior minutes, while Arsenal retain a first-team squad built to compete immediately for domestic and European trophies.
Jessie Gale joins Newcastle on loan
Jessie Gale will spend the complete 2026/27 season on loan at Newcastle United. The temporary move separates her situation from Arsenal’s permanent departures. Gale remains an Arsenal player and will have an opportunity to collect consistent senior minutes before returning to north London. No purchase option has been announced.
Arsenal contract renewals in 2026
| Player | Position | New contract |
|---|---|---|
| Stina Blackstenius | Forward | Two years |
| Steph Catley | Defender | Two years |
| Leah Williamson | Defender | Two years |
| Caitlin Foord | Forward | Two years |
Arsenal Women’s 2026 transfer
The four renewals provide continuity during a summer of considerable movement. Williamson remains a central figure in Arsenal’s defence and leadership group, while Catley’s ability to play at left-back and centre-back becomes even more valuable following several defensive departures.
Foord and Blackstenius retain proven attacking options around the new signings. Their extensions mean Arsenal have not responded to Mead’s departure by rebuilding the entire forward line; they have kept established players while adding Cerci and Baum to the rotation.
How Arsenal’s squad has changed
Goalkeepers: two arrivals replace two departures
Rodríguez and Damm have arrived following the exits of Zinsberger and Williams. The numbers are unchanged, but the internal hierarchy may be different.
Rodríguez brings the experience to compete immediately with Van Domselaar, while Damm is an 18-year-old development signing. Borbe remains another senior option, giving Arsenal four goalkeepers with contrasting experience levels.
Defence: Batlle arrives after four defensive exits
Batlle is Arsenal’s only confirmed senior defensive signing so far, while McCabe, Codina, Peacock and Nighswonger have left.
That comparison does not automatically mean Arsenal are four defenders short: Peacock was still developing, Nighswonger had spent time away on loan and Batlle can cover both full-back positions. Catley and Williamson have also signed new contracts.
Even so, this is the area most likely to remain under scrutiny while Arsenal stay active in the market. One injury could quickly reduce Slegers’ options at centre-back or full-back, particularly during a congested European schedule.
Midfield: Stanway and Reuteler change the balance
Stanway and Reuteler add experience, physical intensity and tactical flexibility. Pelova and Kafaji have left permanently, while Harbert has moved to the NWSL.
The new midfield has been built to offer Slegers more combinations rather than direct one-for-one replacements. Stanway can play deeper or move forward, while Reuteler can operate as an eight or between the lines. Both can work alongside Kim Little, Frida Maanum, Mariona Caldentey and Kyra Cooney-Cross in different structures.
Attack: Cerci provides depth through the centre
Mead’s exit removes a long-serving winger and established creator. Arsenal have responded by adding two different attacking profiles.
Cerci provides another recognised striker alongside Russo and Blackstenius. Baum is a young, direct winger whose role can grow over time. Reuteler’s ability to move into attacking areas supplies an additional layer of flexibility.
The result is a broader distribution of attacking responsibility. Arsenal will not depend on one player to reproduce Mead’s contribution, but on several new and retained forwards offering different qualities.
Arsenal’s transfer-window assessment so far
This is a significant reconstruction rather than a small adjustment to an established squad. Arsenal have changed two goalkeepers, replaced senior figures at full-back and rebuilt part of the midfield and attack.
The recruitment contains a clear balance between immediate quality and longer-term development. Stanway, Reuteler, Batlle and Rodríguez arrive with extensive international and Champions League experience. Cerci is entering her peak years, while Baum and Damm have been recruited with future development in mind.
The departures are equally important. Mead, McCabe and Zinsberger represented years of experience at Arsenal, while Pelova and Codina were established internationals capable of contributing at WSL level. Integrating seven signings while redistributing their minutes will be one of Slegers’ first challenges of the season.
Arsenal have nevertheless retained important continuity through the renewals of Williamson, Catley, Foord and Blackstenius. The squad is substantially different, but its leadership and knowledge of Slegers’ methods have not disappeared.
The window cannot yet receive a final assessment because Arsenal remain active. Based on the confirmed business, the greatest improvement is the range of options in goal and midfield. Defensive depth remains the clearest area to monitor before the market closes.
Arsenal Women transfers 2026: frequently asked questions
Which players have Arsenal Women signed in summer 2026?
Arsenal have signed Georgia Stanway, Selina Cerci, Géraldine Reuteler, Ona Batlle, Lisa Baum, Isabella Damm and Misa Rodríguez.
Which players have left Arsenal Women?
Naomi Williams, Katie McCabe, Manuela Zinsberger, Beth Mead, Laia Codina, Victoria Pelova, Niamh Peacock, Rosa Kafaji, Laila Harbert, Jenna Nighswonger and Vivienne Lia have left permanently or following the expiry of their contracts. Jessie Gale has joined Newcastle United on a season-long loan.
How many players have Arsenal Women signed?
Arsenal have completed seven permanent signings so far during the 2026 summer transfer window.
Have Arsenal Women signed a new goalkeeper?
Yes. Arsenal have signed Spain international Misa Rodríguez from Real Madrid and Danish goalkeeper Isabella Damm from Brøndby.
Which Arsenal players signed new contracts?
Stina Blackstenius, Steph Catley, Leah Williamson and Caitlin Foord have each agreed new two-year contracts.
Have Arsenal finished their summer transfer business?
No. Renée Slegers has said Arsenal remain active in the market, meaning further arrivals or departures are possible before the window closes.
Source: Arsenal – Arsenal Women’s 2026 transfer
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