By Millie Poultney
Image via @Alessia on Instagram
Following on from their Champions League victory two seasons ago and the Gunners lifting the Champions Cup earlier this year, Arsenal Women’s trophy cabinet remained mostly sparse for the 2025/2026 season. They started the summer transfer window with the clear intention to build on their previous successes and strengthen an already high achieving team. While the squad has added quality in several areas with key, high profile signings, it is clear that the departure of the likes of Katie McCabe and Beth Mead will reshape the overall performance and drive of the squad. With the 25/26 team placing second overall for the domestic league and qualifying for the Champions league semi final: the key question in everyone’s minds is can the new signings help to redress the gaps that these departures leave, so that the Gunners can touch Silverware this season.
The club kicked off their summer by signing 27-year-old England midfielder Georgia Stanway, who came on a free transfer from Bayern Munich. Not only did Stanway see the German side through to winning all four league titles during her time at the club, she was also a strong, consistent starting member of the Lionesses squad that won back to back European trophies in 2022 and 2025. Aside from this international experience, Stanway arrives at Arsenal having competed in the national division and winning the WSL title with the Citizens in 2016.
The number 4 is not the only midfield addition this summer, with 27-year-old Geraldine Reuteler signing just a week later on the 8th of July. The Swiss international arrives from Eintracht Frankfurt, where she demonstrated her versatility across a number of different positions, operating impressively not only in midfield but also performing strongly up front as well. While competing within the Bundesliga, it was recorded that Reuteler provided her team with seven goals and six assists during the 2025/6 season, further demonstrating her capability of creating opportunities for fellow teammates. Both player arrivals at the club are set to provide Renée Slegers with dynamic yet versatile options in the midfield as they join Gunners’ veterans including captain Kim Little.
Re-introducing herself back into the WSL and hoping to continue her winning streak at Barcelona, 27-year-old defender Ona Batlle joins the Gunners on a free transfer from the Spanish side, where she made 114 appearances and scored 14 goals over her three seasons there. In a recent interview, Renée Slegers labels her as a “full back with strong intent”. Batlle will be greeted in North London by a familiar face in the form of midfielder Mariona Caldentey, having played alongside the Spanish forward at Barcelona and internationally. Batlle has the potential to be extremely helpful when creating chances for Caldentey, as they are well acquainted with each other’s style of play.
Arsenal’s recruitment has also not been limited to just strengthening their defence and midfield, it is clear that the club’s main aim is to increase the capabilities and talent of the team as a whole, not just for this season, but to lay down the foundations for years of future success. During this particular transfer window, Arsenal Women have brought in two more significant additions between the posts: 27-year-old Misa Rodriguez, who arrives with a considerable level of experience both at club level from Real Madrid, and internationally for Spain, and 18-year-old Dane Isabella Damm who joins after spending time at Arsenal on trial last season. The contrast of the two new signings has highlighted the importance Slegers places not just on strengthening the current squad, but also in building for the future.
To complete the new signings, the Gunners have also expanded their current line of attack by introducing 19-year-old young talent Lisa Baum who has joined the club off a free transfer from the Bundesliga side R.B Leipzig, where she made 26 appearances and scored six goals in her single season with the club. Her arrival further underlines the Gunners’ willingness to build up important figures for the club’s future success.
However, while the new arrivals have strengthened the likelihood of future trophies within this team, this summer’s window has also seen notable and unexpected transfers including the departure of left back Katie McCabe in mid-May. After eleven years at the club having made over 305 appearances, the Irish international leaves behind a gap that includes not only skill that might not be possible to replicate, but also a lasting legacy. The 30-year-old has joined Chelsea Women’s Football Club on a three-year contract with an option to add on an additional season.
Another significant loss comes in the form of the attacking midfielder Beth Mead. Mead joined the North London side in the January 2017 window, and since then has established herself as one of the most reliable attackers in the national league, and during the 2021/22 season had the most assists in the WSL as well as being the third highest goal scorer in the national League, winning her The Golden Boot. Mead joins Manchester City on a free transfer from Arsenal, on a three-year deal with the Citizens. Laia Codina also left for West Ham United and Victoria Pelova signed with rival North London side Tottenham Hotspur.
Overall, the transfer window has been a strong one for the Gunners with a new generation of talent arriving, despite legacy players departing the club. It is now up to Renée Slegers and the wider Arsenal team to prove that their rebuild can translate into success on the pitch for the next season and many more to come.
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