Arsenal Women have completed the signing of Alessia Russo after her contract with Manchester United expired. Following the expiration of her United contract, Arsenal has now acquired the 24-year-old’s services on a free transfer after having two offers, including one for a world record sum, rejected in January. Russo scored 10 goals in the WSL last year while playing for Marc Skinner’s team, who came in second place to Chelsea. Russo declined to sign a new contract with United and was instead free to go from Manchester to north London, where she is eager to build on the Women’s Euro victory she shared with the Lionesses last summer by winning domestic trophies after scoring four goals in the competition.
“I’m genuinely thrilled to be here and am eager to begin,” Alessia Russo said after completing her transfer to Arsenal Women. “Like everyone else in this group, I want to bring home some hardware. It’s a fresh challenge in a new setting, and I can’t wait to get started and develop as a player. I believe the women’s game has grown tremendously, especially at a club like Arsenal. Last season’s sell-out match between Arsenal and Wolfsburg at Emirates Stadium was incredible, and I’m simply very thrilled to be a part of this club.”
Russo has scored 11 goals in 21 senior games for her nation, and she is traveling with the England team to the World Cup, which gets underway later this month in Australia and New Zealand.
“Alessia is one of the top forwards in the world and has a great deal of room to develop further,”Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall said. “We’re very excited to have welcomed her to the club because she has a track record of scoring goals in the WSL and at the international level, and we think she’ll be a great addition to our forward line.”
Following the purchases of Amanda Ilestedt, a defender, and Cloe Lacasse, a forward, from Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica, respectively, Russo is Arsenal’s third summer signing. Russo was among numerous players who departed the club when their contracts expired, United said last month.
For more football news, click here
