Former Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema is set to agree a deal with Manchester City Women. The Dutch forward, who spent seven years with Arsenal before leaving at the expiry of her contract this summer, looks set to join their WSL rivals, as Arseblog News and several other outlets reported on 13 May.
With Champions League football next season (assuming they get through their second round qualifier) City have only 18 first-team players currently and need to beef out their squad. It remains to be seen where Miedema plays for them but given City already have Bunny Shaw upfront, it seems likely Miedema will play behind her in a deeper role, as she did for her final 18 months at Arsenal.
Miedema had interest from other clubs overseas and told the Dutch press recently that she took time over her recent holiday to make a decision on her future, which she wanted wrapped up before Netherlands play their July internationals. Sky Sports’ Anton Toloui is reporting that Miedema has taken the decision to join City.
Manchester City are close to finalising the signing of Vivianne Miedema 👀
The WSL's all-time leading scorer has agreed to join last year's runners up after leaving Arsenal 🔀 pic.twitter.com/MVZtYhBXWH
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) July 1, 2024
It is likely to reopen the contentiousness of her departure, especially as Miedema will play for a WSL rival. City finished above Arsenal in the table last season. With Frida Maanum, Alessia Russo, Kim Little and the incoming Mariona able to play as a 10 and Russo and Stina Blackstenius as number 9s, her positions are well covered but, clearly, plenty of fans feel Miedema’s quality will be difficult to replace.
As well as Mariona, Arsenal are likely to add another winger to their attack for next season with Gio set to join Atletico Madrid. Arsenal could also add a future signing or two as the squad has one of the highest average ages in the WSL.
yes, her quality will be greatly missed.
yeah why not give them Saka and Odegaard as well…what a stupid decision to let her go…
Very stupid
Masterclass from Jonas.
Mariona could be an exciting addition, the rumour of her arrival was floated some time ago…
Look at what you’ve done Jonas. Sigh. Modern football is so wasteful and inefficient. What a money pit
Is there already a date for Mariona’s signing? And I hope Arsenal gets Rosemonde Kouassi’s contract. Regarding Viv, Arsenal is acting like Real Madrid did with CR7, without romanticism with the player. If they want titles, sometimes we have to make decisions that don’t please everyone. She could add a lot to the club, but we will never understand certain decisions.
Although Viv will be missed at our Club, we and her move on.
Thank you Viv for your remarkable contribution. Always a Gooner👏👏
Great player! Will always be remembered like Robin van Persie.
You mean Snakey van Snake 🐍🐍
What about goalies or are we going to do the unthinkable and give Naomi some games? She looked good in Oz and if City can play a young keeper in front of other England internationals why can’t we? I am sure if we had registered Gio and given her some games instead of Hurtig who was never going to play she wouldn’t be on her way to Spain and the winger problem would have been solved.
Jonas has to begin to deliver.
That’s just what l didn’t want to hear….
I hope she does really well for citeh, but that we still beat them to the title, because I want the best of all worlds 😀
Will always be grateful for all Viv did at Arsenal and I very much feel “once a Gooner…”. It will be fascinating to see how this works out, not clear to me which way it will go. With the Mariona signing, and a new manager at Chelsea, I’m excited and looking forward to the new season (but not without a little apprehension!)
I’ve been considering this too. City play a pretty one dimensional game with Hemp and Kelly on the wings and Shaw as a central target. Where does Viv fit in that system? She is at her best when given a free reign to rely on her brilliance but a rigid structure does not suit her so well. I fear for her that if she even gets into the team she will end up going deeper and deeper just to get the ball much like she did at the end of her Arsenal career to much criticism from the fans. In… Read more »
“She is at her best when given a free reign to rely on her brilliance but a rigid structure does not suit her so well.”
This is why I think she wanted to leave Arsenal… Jonas would not give her free reign
Indeed, that’s why I am surprised she has chosen City if she does sign for them. She could have had a pick of most clubs in Europe but I’m not sure she’ll find what she is looking for at the blue side of Manchester.
agreed
I thought for sure Joe would get her to PSG
Pure speculation, but if i was her, i would like to change team to avoid spending tooo much time with my love 🙂
And don’t forget her close friend & great player, Jill Roord, will soon return to the City team.
What about the close friend and great player Meado that she’s leaving in North London? In such a short professional career as a footballer has I don’t believe sentiment can come into it and you have to do what is right for your game at that particular time. Once you finish playing you can choose to base yourself where your friends are.
Good points, Peter.
She wanted to move on…it was not just Jonas
Another high profile departure coincides with Jonas at the helm. Last year we saw what parris can do when she is allowed to play… will viv be the same? Will Jonas learn from mistakes or keep repeating them? The team has had very heavy investment since he arrived and he’s yet to deliver.
I thought those days are gone.