Lionesses star Alessia Russo has signed for Arsenal marking the end of a protracted transfer saga concerning the former Manchester United forward.
Russo penned an open letter to fans in June revealing her decision to depart United upon the expiry of her current contract this summer, though she refrained from divulging her next step. The Gunners announced the deal via twitter with the words, "Welcome to the Arsenal family. Alessia Russo is our new No.23."
Speculation over the England striker’s future has been fierce since she entered the final year of her contract with United, following last summer’s European Championships. Clubs in Spain, France and USA have showed interested in procuring the Lioness.
The 2022/23 season was a record-breaking campaign for Russo, who scored 13 goals in all competitions including 10 in the league to clinch qualification for the UEFA Women's Champions League and a memorable runners-up finish after a close battle with eventual champions Chelsea.
But United failed to tie down their top goalscorer to a new deal and announced last month she would leave Leigh Sports Village. Now Russo has agreed to swap one shade of WSL red for another as Arsenal look to win back the league title next season, after they were last crowned champions in 2019.
The move represents a remarkable coup for Jonas Eidevall and co, with the club very nearly coughing up a world-record fee of roughly £500,000 for the United player back in January as Arsenal ’s attacking ranks were decimated by injury. United rejected Arsenal’s bids, but the rebuffs did little to quell their rival’s interest.
Six months on, Arsenal will get their player without the lucrative check and thus critically strengthen the depth of a squad pushed to the brink in a taxing injury-ridden season. The Gunners pipped Manchester City to the final European place in the WSL table on goal difference, and another bid at European glory will be bolstered with the addition of Russo.
For United, the loss of Russo marks the latest instalment of a dubious transfer and contract strategy by a club vying to establish itself in the game’s upper echelons. United star Ona Batlle, considered one of the world’s best full-backs, is set for a departure to Barcelona following the expiry of her contract, and concerns have been routinely raised regarding United’s tendency to dither over important contract negotiations.
According to reports, ongoing issues surrounding contract negotiations made the idea of signing a new contract unpalatable to Russo, despite United securing Champions League football.
Russo is currently preparing for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with England flying out tomorrow for a pre-tournament training camp. The European champions begin their campaign with a group stage opener against Haiti on 22 July.
