Arsenal signed the etc. defender Jenna Nighswonger from NWSL Side NJ/NY Gotham in a permanent transmission.
At the beginning of this week, the news broke out that the Gunners had confirmed their interest in the defender and had made an agreement with the New York team. Nighswonger’s contract should expire at the end of the 2025 NWSL season, which means that she would have had the opportunity to explore the freelance agency in November.
She spent the last two seasons with Gotham and took home the NWSL Rookie of the Year 2023 in her debut season. The defender saw her playing time in the back end of the 2024 campaign and fought for a starting position in Juan Carlos Amoros’ side.
The defender confirmed the news of her departure from the New York side via social media on Thursday morning and told the fans that “NJ will always be a place I call at home”.
Nighswonger was a member of the US team of the US women’s national team, who took home gold in four of the six games at the 2024 Olympics in 2024. She gave her senior debut for the nation in 2023 and has performed 18 times on the World Stage since then.
First and foremost, the versatile defender can pursue their trade in left -back, and can also play in central defenders and in midfield if they are asked. Nighswonger’s arrival enables head coach Renee Slegers a variety of depths in defense and the ability to push Katie McCabe on the field if necessary.
After a handful of departure from the North London Club, the 24-year-old becomes the only signing of the January Transfer window in Arsenal. Academy -prospects Vivianne Lia, Laila Harbart, Maddy Earl and Freya Godfrey explore all the loan companies, while Kathrine Kuhl as a Roma is on a permanent transmission.
“I’m so happy to be here,” said Nighswonger. “I’ve always wanted to play in England and join a historical football club is a dream that has become true. I want to win trophies with this club and help the team in any way. It is an incredible feeling of being able to call myself an Arsenal player, and I can’t wait to get started. “
The director of women’s football, Clare Wheatley, spoke about the signing and expressed himself, “We are happy to bring Jenna to the club and to strengthen our squad in an important area in an important second half of the season and beyond.
“Jenna has already won trophies with club and country, but has a clear potential for future growth and development. So we are confident that she will make a big contribution here at Arsenal. I am certainly your family in the club.”
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