Arsenal have signed Jodie Taylor on a deal until the end of the season. The 36-year-old’s contract at San Diego Wave expired at the end of 2022 so she is a free agent.
Taylor also enjoyed a short-term spell at the Gunners in early 2017 where she scored seven goals in 12 appearances. She was England’s leading scorer at Euro 2017 and has played for the likes of Birmingham and Lincoln in England, Portland Thorns, OL Reign and Orlando Pride in the US, as well as Lyon, Goteborg and Melbourne Victory in a nomadic career.
Taylor joins as Arsenal did not land the striker they wanted in the January transfer window following injuries to Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema and provides short-term cover upfront. Taylor will wear the number 27 shirt.
“It feels amazing to be back – like I never left,” Taylor told the Arsenal website. “It’s incredible to have this opportunity to come back to the club that I love so much. A lot of progression has happened here in the last five years since I was last here and to see how much the club has grown and progressed is incredible. I’m very happy to be here.”
Head Coach Jonas Eidevall added: “We’re really pleased to have brought in Jodie to help us from now until the end of the season. She has a proven track record for scoring goals and we know her experience will be a great asset to the whole dressing room. We have so much to fight for this season and Jodie will help us on that journey.”
Head of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said: “Jodie is a really experienced and talented player and will give us added competition at this crucial stage of the season. We’re delighted to bring her back to the club and all have great memories of working with her in her previous spell here.”
Interesting – I’d been a little surprised there’d been no word on her next move after she left San Diego.
I recall her having injuries during her first spell, but year and a half is hardly short-term!
A lot of that was out of season time though, it was during the interim period between the spring series and the resumption of the winter season.
Strange that we let Nobbs go and since her move to villa she’s got four goals
From my understanding, Nobbs asked to leave…no ?
She wanted more regular playing time. She wasn’t starting ahead of Little, Walti & Maanum.
We didn’t want her to go but Jordan needed to be playing regularly for any chance of being at the World Cup.
Villa could guarantee her game time, we couldn’t 🤷
I think this is great. The thing about signing an experienced player is that you know exactly what you’re getting and she knows exactly what you need her to do. It all hinges on Jodie Taylor staying fit, but if she is uninjured now, that is a good sign. Proven goalscorer signed for three months, happy with that. If Stina ruptured her ACL or something, would you rather have her or nobody? Because we really do not have another fit striker in the squad.
Welcome back to the Arsenal, Jodie Taylor.
I can see the sense in this but I don’t think it’s going to be transformative. With more players who can play up front, it is going to mean fewer minutes for some.
At this stage of the season it’s not about sharing minutes between players we need someone to finish all of the chances we create to win games and we cannot rely on Stina all of the time in the same way that we relied on only Viv for season after season. Jodie has done well over many years in different leagues and if it is within the rules it has to be a good idea.
Transformation will happen in summer and she is only signed until the end of the season. I guess we’d still start with Stina anyway , but we should now have at least a bit of an alternative as sub in case Stina has a quiet day. Players for transformation can not be found at this stage of the season as hardly any useful player is a free agent at this point and – as we experienced – also not really in the winter window if their clubs are hard headed. Still gave you a thumbs up here, cause you said… Read more »