Arsenal have signed USWNT defender Jenna Nighswonger from NWSL facet NJ/NY Gotham on a everlasting switch.
Information broke earlier this week that the Gunners had confirmed their interest in the defender and had reached an settlement with the New York facet. Nighswonger’s contract was set to run out on the finish of the 2025 NWSL season, which means she would have had the chance to discover free company in November.
She has spent the final two seasons with Gotham, taking residence the 2023 NWSL Rookie of the 12 months honour in her debut season. The defender noticed her recreation time dwindle within the back-end of the 2024 marketing campaign, struggling for a beginning place in Juan Carlos Amoros’s facet.
The defender confirmed the information of her departure from the New York facet by way of social media on Thursday morning, telling followers “NJ will at all times be a spot I name residence”.
Nighswonger was a member of the U.S Women’s National Team squad that took residence gold on the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games, that includes in 4 of the six fixtures. Making her senior debut for the nation in 2023, she has since appeared on the world stage 18 instances.
Primarily plying her commerce at left-back, the versatile defender may play at centre-back and midfield when known as upon. Nighswonger’s arrival will present head coach Renee Slegers with a plethora of depth in defence, in addition to the flexibility to push Katie McCabe additional up the pitch when needed.
The 24-year-old turns into Arsenal’s solely signing of the January switch window, following a handful of exits from the north-London membership. Academy prospects Vivianne Lia, Laila Harbart, Maddy Earl and Freya Godfrey are all exploring mortgage ventures, while Kathrine Kuhl departs for AS Roma on a everlasting switch.
“I’m so comfortable to be right here,” stated Nighswonger. “I’ve at all times wished to play in England and becoming a member of such an historic soccer membership is a dream come true. I need to win trophies with this membership and assist the workforce in any manner attainable. It’s an unbelievable feeling to have the ability to name myself an Arsenal participant and I can’t wait to get began.”
Director of Girls’s Soccer Clare Wheatley spoke on the signing, expressing “We’re delighted to carry Jenna to the membership and strengthen our squad in a key space going into an essential second half of the season and past.
“Jenna has already received trophies with each membership and nation however has clear potential for future development and growth, so we’re assured she’s going to make an excellent contribution right here at Arsenal. I’m positive our fantastic supporters will be a part of me in welcoming Jenna and her household to the membership.”
