Former Manchester United striker Alessia Russo has confirmed she will join Women’s Super League side Arsenal.
The 24-year-old joins Jonas Eidevall’s ranks for the upcoming 2023/24 season penning a deal to keep her in the English top tier in a permanent move.
Russo scored 26 goals in 59 appearances for United since joining in 2020. Her history in the English top-tier spans back to 2016 with Chelsea, where she made her senior debut in the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup. A year later, she moved to Brighton & Hove Albion making her first appearance in the Women’s Super League at the south-coast club.
The striker then moved to the USA to play college football with the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she lined up alongside new teammate defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Russo said: “I’m really excited to be here and I can’t wait to get going,” said Alessia. “I want to win trophies – as does everyone in this club. I can’t wait to get stuck in and grow as a player – it’s a new challenge and a new environment.
“I think the growth of the women’s game has been incredible, but particularly at a club like Arsenal. The sell-out against Wolfsburg at Emirates Stadium last season was fantastic, and I’m just really excited to be part of this club.”
Arsenal expressed their interest in United’s number nine back in January, subsequently offering the club a record fee to ply her trade in North London, which the Reds denied. Yet Manchester United failed to agree a new deal with the striker, resulting in her decision to part ways.
It's an interesting move for Russo, considering United had a stronger 2022/23 campaign finishing second in the table; two points behind Chelsea and yet nine ahead of third-place Arsenal to round off the top three of the top tier. All three have qualified for Champions League football next season.
So why would she opt for a move to Arsenal? It's a good question because she was favoured at United, a stalwart in Marc Skinner's unwavering starting XI selection. She started 19 of the 20 league games last season, hampered by an injury early on in the campaign. Yet managed to net 10 goals and bag one assist, the highest stats in her three seasons at the club.
Would you trade a starting spot at United to be one of many talents at Arsenal? Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema are progressing through rehabilitation timely, so thats two ruthless attackers that will surely be included ASAP. In their absence, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius, have stepped up to the plate, as has Katie McCabe being pushed higher up the field...
Maybe it's the competition for places Russo craves? To be pushed to perform to new heights, but is there room for her prowess?
Russo’s style to drop deeper and generate the attack from further infield proves a number 10 quality, with Kim Little also occupying a spot in the Physiotherapy bench, so perhaps there is a chance to develop into an attacking midfield role. Then again, why rein Russo in when she possesses a forward’s killer instinct?
Arsenal would know, suffering two losses last year at the hands of Russo and Manchester United; the first time the Reds have done the double over the Gunners, in WSL history.
Russo nodded home a dramatic last-minute winner at the Emirates for the 3-2 win back in mid-November. The second came as a double blow at Leigh Sports Village in April.
The first half saw Leah Williamson go to the ground with an ACL injury and then Russo hit the back of the net in subsequent injury time, scoring the only goal of the game. Nevertheless I will enjoy to see what Eidevall brings out in Russo as she continues her career on home turf, with Arsenal.
