Arsenal defender Rafaelle is set to leave the club this summer with Orlando Pride understood to be her most likely destination, Arseblog News understands. The Brazilian defender joined the club last January after a five year spell in China. Our understanding is that a deal is not yet agreed but close.
Rafa has quickly become a mainstay of the squad and incredibly popular with fans for her performances on the left side of Arsenal’s defence. She was a key part of the team that won the Conti Cup this season, scoring in the final against Chelsea.
Rafa is among the strongest dribblers in the league and one of the most aerially dominant defenders in the league. The 31-year-old also captained her country to Copa America glory in the summer of 2022.
It is understood that the player was not unhappy at Arsenal but the pull of Orlando was too much to resist- Orlando is a very popular destination for Brazilians.
What the actual fuck
A new contract with improved terms changes minds.
My thoughts exactly.
Not on this occasion. She played in China for five years, she already played for the money in a place that felt far from home. Sometimes it’s just like this.
They’re not mutually exclusive. Big money to go somewhere she has always fancied going at some stage? No-brainer for her.
Indeed.
Orlando is only on the map because of Disney World. Most of Florida is hot and humid swamp with maybe Miami being the only notable place to visit. The state government has some pretty intolerant and archaic laws as well when compared to the rest of the large population states in the US
There is far more to Florida than Disney ! Its a very beautiful state
Really sad news, obviously we wish her luck for the future but I wonder what state this leaves our defense in. She was our best defender for very long stretches of the season and we don’t have any left footed center backs . The recruitment will have to be good to come up with an adequate replacement. With leah out until at least the end of the year and a very short preseason I’m not sure if any new signings will have time to acclimate.
No doubt we’re losing an excellent player but what an opportunity this could be for Anna Patten. I wonder if there’s a possibility of her and Wubben-Moy being our starting centre-backs next season. Let’s wait and see.
Sorry, I only know Anna Patten loosely because I started following the clib this season, is she left footed?
I don’t know for sure I’m afraid but I don’t think so. She’s been on loan at Aston Villa for the last season and a half though so I’d guess she’s either going to be brought back into the fold now or let go. She’s deputised at right -back for us before but Jonas sees her as a centre-back so her partnering Wubben-Moy next season could be an exciting possibility.
I would be incredibly surprised if Anna came back.
That would be a shame since she is also a gooner
Why would she? She gets to play every week, and villa are a rising team with an excellent season.
No, she’s not.
That’s a real blow. Going to be difficult to replace. Plus, she has had an outstanding season.
NOOOOO!!! WTF. This is the last bit of news I expected. She does have two national teammates in Orlando (Marta and Adriana) but still did not expect her to leave Arsenal. She’s so valuable, this is a big blow.
Don’t like this one f*cking bit
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
Damn, she will not be easy to replace. Also any news on Viv?
Viv signed a 1+1 last year, so no need to worry there.
A big bliw
She just signed last year, what kind of contract did Arsenal give her? Earn as you play? If she was on a longer contract we would have just said no, she is not leaving. This is irritating.
If she wants to go, not sure that saying “No, stay and play” would really help matters.
That’s how women football works. They don’t sign long contracts like the men. Big big blow this is.
It’s messed up. We have to break in 2 world class CBs and have everything working and no pre-season, ready for the 1st round wcl play offs. This is terrible for arsenal. I even feel disappointed in the player. She couldn’t wait til Jan??
That’s not the situation here. Club were really desperate not to let her go but this is a chance to be somewhere closer to home with a lifestyle much closer to the one she grew up in. There is a reason Pride have a lot of Brazilians, it’s because Orlando is a place they love.
Is Arsenal getting a fee? If so, how much is it?
I’ve heard that Orlando have $350,000 in unused allocation fees, so the fee would get would hopefully be big one
…on the other hand, luring a CB to Arsenal with the promise of a possible regular starting place rather than being a squad player (with LW due back in the New Year) might actually allow for more options in the transfer market.
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can find another good left-footed centre back as her replacement.
A real Mickey Mouse decision, if you ask me.
Decision is the player’s not the club’s. Trust me when I say the club didn’t want this any more than you or I.
Oh yeah, I was just referring to the whole Orlando part of it all (Disney) 😉
She was great for us but it’s certainly understandable on a personal level.
Not at all good news, not at all – Rafa is an absolutely first class defender, very strong, skilful and a brilliant tackler; irreplaceable really.
Time to recall Anna Patten I reckon.
Have to sign a world class defender this summer if this is true. Needed to sign a lot of players before this news so this transfer window becomes even more crucial
I keep an eye on the results but must admit I don’t know much about the players – from the comments on here this sounds like a blow 😕
Oh great !! Thanks Raffa
Is it April 1st again already!
You couldn’t make it up!
Sounds like Orlando is a place for retiring Brazilians!
I like Anna Patten but she ain’t left footed nor is she at the level we have seen from Rafa this season.
Very sorry that she was only with us for a season and a half. However, she absolutely gave her all while here (and wouldn’t have won the Conti Cup without her). Thank you Rafa and all the best for the future.
Thought she was a candidate for POTM at home to Wolfsburg, complete shutdown defender. Glad to have seen her in action. Wish her the best with the move.
She’s been POTM on quite a few matches.
Well this has put a crimp in my day.
Good luck to Rafa, she’s been great and given 100% in every game. But her timing is terrible for us. And as for being best mates with Leah, loving London and feeling loved, what happened to that? I suspect there is a personal reason that we are not privy to. (Nor should we be.)
So that’s *four* top-class players to get this summer, then…
Oh no! She’s fabulous
Has there been any talk of picking up Harder-Eriksson this summer? Both are on outgoing contracts and love London. I’d consider that a coup.
Tim thank you for removing my comment about Rafaelle’s departure i had pre ictal irritability/ agression, i dont recognise it as such at the timd (I’m an epileptic) . when I remembered it and came to delete it because I was ashamed, you had already done it. I’m very grateful. It was a very disability friendly thing to do