Arsenal Women have confirmed the signing of USWNT left-back Jenna Nighswonger in a deal worth around £80,000. The 24-year-old announced her departure from Gotham FC earlier today. With Steph Catley now the first choice left-sided centre-half, Arsenal have moved for a left-back to add depth to the position. Until last night’s game against Bristol City, Katie McCabe had started every single game this season in the position for the Gunners.
The addition of Nighswonger also allows Katie McCabe potentially move up the pitch and bolster Arsenal’s wide options with Lina Hurtig again nursing an injury. With Laura Wienroither out of favour, it also frees McCabe up to play at right-back too. Nighswonger is a graduate of Florida State and joined Gotham in January 2023, playing 46 games for the NWSL side.
Nighswonger also has 18 caps for the USWNT and was part of their Olympic gold medal winning squad over the summer. “I’m so happy to be here,” said Jenna. “I’ve always wanted to play in England and joining such an historic football club is a dream come true. I want to win trophies with this club and help the team in any way possible. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to call myself an Arsenal player and I can’t wait to get started.”
Head Coach Renée Slegers said: “Jenna has had a great trajectory in the game and we’re delighted to bring her to Arsenal. Despite being only 24, she plays with great maturity and presence and knows what it takes to compete to win on the biggest stages at both domestic and national team level. Jenna is an important addition to our squad and I’m looking forward to getting started together.”
Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said: “We’re delighted to bring Jenna to the club and strengthen our squad in a key area going into an important second half of the season and beyond. Jenna has already won trophies with both club and country but has clear potential for future growth and development, so we’re confident she will make a great contribution here at Arsenal. I’m sure our wonderful supporters will join me in welcoming Jenna and her family to the club.”
Jenna will wear the number 22 shirt.
All done and dusted. I assume that Renee was not so hot about Walsh probably because I do not think we needed her and certainly not just to stop another club signing her.
Really hoping that Walsh was just Eidevall’s priority signing and not so much Renee’s in order to explain how easily she went to Chelsea after we put in such a ridiculously high bid for her 6 months ago. If so I would expect to see all that money invested in Renee’s squad in the summer? Obviously trying hard to rationalize it because otherwise our recruitment looks pretty clueless.
Also Nighswonger is a very good attacking signing even if she is a defender. She was an attacking player through college in U.S. before she started playing fullback a few seasons ago for Gotham.
If she is 75% of what Emily has brought to the team she is most welcome. It means we can put Steph in at LSCB and Katie Mc doesn’t have to play every game.
I think we need an upgrade on LB not just a depth option. Jenna Nighswonger is good attacking but not so good in defense (similar to McCabe but with less experience and hot-headedness). I think Renée will certainly help her improve defensively, just don’t expect her to be close to the level of Emily Fox.
Or perhaps Walsh preferred to go to Chelsea.
But if that was the case then why did Arsenal commit so much to sign her 6 months ago? Clearly we would have spoken to her representatives for encouragement before committing so much. And there was no report of a bidding war this time so it just seems very possible that we weren’t interested anymore – maybe because we had a manager change and the recruitment priority is elsewhere now. If we still need a 6 for when Kim retires then Sam Coffey (the USWNT player Chelsea were linked to before they suddenly switched to Walsh) is an Arsenal fan.
why did Arsenal commit so much to sign her 6 months ago? Different manager who thought it was worth a shot? Walsh has always *preferred* Chelsea, according to Emma Sanders. That doesn’t mean she would never have come to Arsenal. Perhaps she changed her mind or perhaps Barca changed their mind about selling. I don’t know why we weren’t in a bidding war this time around, but I very much hope it was because RS didn’t want her. We already have 2 potential Kim Little replacements in Pelova and KCC. It’s Walti who needs backup or competition. I am confident… Read more »
So I take it then that you don’t believe the rumours about Walti leaving this summer? My head is a bit scrambled from following the Barca fan sites as well as many NWSL ones this window so maybe this rumour is completely unfounded but I did see it in more than one place. Interesting that so many Barca fans are regretting their club not accepting Arsenal’s offer for Walsh now that she goes to the CL favourites Chelsea instead. Barca fans seem to think Walsh was very unhappy this past year at Barca and would have gone to either Arsenal… Read more »
I hadn’t heard rumours about Wälti leaving but I tend not to take any notice of rumours anyway.
I would hate Wälti to leave, I think she’s got a lot more to give Arsenal Women.
I never did rate Walsh and we don’t need her. I think she was a Jonas pick because we certainly didn’t fight too hard for her signature following the stupid offer. Apparently the player wanted to go to Chelsea so she would not have been happy with us anyway and having unhappy players in the squad is a receipie for disaster as we have seen.
“recipe”
She’s a great DLP, but the physicality of the WSL will find her out. She gets marked out of games on international duty. And she needs a minder – which is fine for Chelsea because Cuthbert will do all the kicking and tackling opponents for her. I’d take her on a free but we don’t *need* her. Especially given the way Codina played in the 6 position yesterday.
I like this signing for a variety of reasons (as a Yank, I like seeing another Yank making the trip across the pond!) Taken on it’s own merits, this is a good move.
In the context of the Great Women’s Football Arms Race of 2025, we need to see more. If Kiera Walsh is indeed moving to Chelsea, Arsenal risk falling further behind. I’d rather win the league than win the transfer window, but I don’t want to make a habit of losing both.
Hurray! Very Renee signing – interesting, young, versatile player. LW/LM/LB. Glad we got it done.
Is this it now, or might there be another last-minute one?
After her time in Gotham City, I wonder if she’ll get the nickname “Catwoman”. I think that it’s an attacking move, because I want Katie McCabe to be playing further up the pitch, where her attacking/shooting ability is more likely to hurt opponents, and her temperament is less likely to get her into trouble.
Very solid player and part of the new look uswnt that’s quite talented and organized, if not loaded with the superstars of years past (which is a good thing, imo).
I reckon Jenna is a an excellent prospective player, and bought for a sensible price. By the way, she is only newly 24 too.
I’m very glad we didn’t get Walsh, who whilst has a lot of qualities, I’ve always felt is over-rated – and putting it politely, her personality is better suited to the blues!