Rosa Kafaji: In profile

Liberty Simons is a women’s football journalist for The Halfway Line, From the Spot and Her Football Hub. She is a regular watcher of the Damallsvenskan and wrote this profile on new signing Rosa Kafaji for us. You can follow Liberty on Twitter @libertysimons.

Rosa Kafaji is no longer an unknown name. Her performances over the last season made sure of that, planting her on many people’s radar. A tricky attacking midfielder with creativity and goals in her locker, the 21 year-old Swedish international joins Arsenal from BK Häcken. A star of the Damallsvenskan, she joins the selection of Swedes in North London, and promises to be the most exciting yet.

Kafaji joins Arsenal from a consistent top three team in the topflight of Swedish football. Hacken were narrowly beaten to the Damallsvenskan title last season by Hammarby IF, losing the title on the final day of the season by just a singular goal. Likewise, they lost out on the Svenska Cupen title to Hammarby earlier in the season, a Hammarby side that previously saw the talents of Kyra Cooney-Cross in midfield. In other words, Kafaji is aware of the fight for a title race, and to win trophies.

But it was Häcken’s UEFA Women’s Champion’s League run that pushed Kafaji into the spotlight. With four goals and one assist in last season’s group stage, including two goals to see Real Madrid’s campaign end early, the youngster shone under the lights against Madrid, Chelsea and PSG.

The most decisive goal being her equaliser against the Spanish side in Matchday 2. A missed header in the box, Kafaji expertly closed down the space, before unleashing a first chance shot on her right foot into the back of the net. Kafaji’s expert use of space and awareness helped her to gain an advantage in the situation and score. She read to perfection how her explosion of speed and power would see the ball into the net, before those around her could react.

Likewise, her assist for the winner in that game cemented her dominance over Real Madrid. Pulling in and out of space expertly, Kafaji’s communication and understanding of her teammates meant she worked the Madrid players inside out, manipulating the space to give herself the room to use it to her advantage. A strong dribble later, she is back in her favoured central position, where she can make the all-important pass for the winning goal. Her awareness of her positioning and how she best uses it to help others remains a standout part of her game.

In the league, Kafaji’s role does not change. She plays as a 10 who plays off any of the strikers BK Häcken use, the Swedish international is the heart of the attack. Her standout moments come in her manipulation of the ball. Confidence and exactitude, she plays with the ball like a freestyler, tipping and flipping it around opponents.

Style meets substance as she progresses the game forwards, finding ways around to continue. Hacken boss Mak Lind has implemented an attacking style of football into the DNA of BK Häcken. It’s a style that has pushed them across competitions and has helped Kafaji to shine. It is ultimately a style that is a part of the Arsenal identity, and one Kafaji will see the benefits of.

Why Arsenal want Rusul Rosa Kafaji pic.twitter.com/d8d5HCliqj

— Laura Veen Comps Specialist (@veencomps) August 4, 2024

Kafaji’s strengths lie in her understanding of time and space. Her quick-thinking and even faster response times means she sees her own movements and involvements to their highest ability, before opponents can figure her out. Similarly, her awareness of space and how she can get the best out of it has, and will continue, to directly correlate to goals. Kafaji uses both the big areas of space, and the smallest, to provide and move attacks forward. Her confidence in front of goal shines bright. One touch shots and finishes into the back of the net are becoming Kafaji’s brand.

Kafaji still has areas of improvement. That’s understandable, she is only 21 years old. Whilst it isn’t her job by role standards, Kafaji’s defensive stats don’t leave much in the way of inspiration. Whilst Arsenal’s attacking style suits Kafaji, when it is needed, almost all Arsenal players chip in, in defence. With less than one clearance, tackle and interception per 90, it is an area that could be improved. Likewise, with Arsenal’s desire to play through the thirds and get everyone involved in build-up play, Kafaji’s passing completion is an area for improvement.

But, once again, with the style and types of players she will be playing with at Arsenal, this is sure to improve after some time with the team. I say all this with the caveat that she is 21, someone who is taking their first taste of football outside of their home country, and away from what they have always known. These areas are sure to be targeted and improved on with time at Arsenal, and as much as Kafaji is a player with the aim for now, she is also a player with the aim for the future. She isn’t being signed as the complete model, but as someone who can grow and mould under the Arsenal banner.

Rosa Kafaji is in no way joining Arsenal to fill gaps. Whilst the absence of Victoria Pelova will be felt, Kafaji’s game adds a dynamic and youthful edge to the attacking line. The continued addition of youth to Arsenal’s midfield is obvious, and the Swede is no different. Stylish and smooth, Kafaji’s move out of Sweden comes at a point where more young talent is leaving the Damallsvenskan to make their mark elsewhere. Not the first, and not the last, she stands out as one of the most promising. From Stockholm, to Gottenburg, Iraq and beyond, Rusul Rosa Kafaji comes to North London as an excellent piece of the current and future puzzle.