Arsenal Women have agreed a deal for Barcelona defender Laia Codina, with the player set to fly to London to finalise the deal after Sunday’s World Cup Final. Codina is set to start for Spain at centre-half where she will lock horns with Gunners summer signing Alessia Russo.
Arseblog News broke the news exclusively earlier this week that Arsenal had a sustained interest and that a deal was likely, our story was subsequently corroborated by Mundo Deportivo.
#NOTICIAMD
✍️’Laia Codina se decanta por el Arsenal’➡️ @Stillmanator desveló el interés ‘gunner’.
➡️ MD puede confirmarlo y añadir que es la opción que más ha gustado a la jugadora.
➡️ Prioriza una liga competitiva y aspirar a todo.
➡️ Habrá traspaso.https://t.co/U0jA6K93fB pic.twitter.com/qhkmxMyaue— Ángel Pérez (@ap_angelperez) August 14, 2023
Our understanding earlier this week was that a player was keen on the move and a deal was likely, as per Emma Sanders at the BBC, we understand Arsenal and Barcelona have now struck an agreement with formalities likely to be completed after the World Cup.
Codina has been a starter for Spain at the World Cup in the absence of Mapi Leon, who stands in her path in the left centre-half role at Barcelona (Codina is right-footed). Arsenal are rebuilding the centre of their defence with Leah Williamson injured for a good chunk of next season and Rafaelle having departed for Orlando Pride.
Arsenal have already added Swedish centre-half Amanda Ilestedt this summer. Our understanding is that Arsenal still want a right-back with Laura Wienroither out for most of next season with an ACL injury.
Fantastic news! Arsenal will have a world champion no matter the result at the final!
She’s already better than Jorginho at scoring freak own goals 😀
Nice to see some positive squad building for both men and women’s teams
Jonas wasn’t happy with recruitment last season but after our starting 11 was decimated by the dreaded ACL and we had yet another “if only” season the penny appears to have finally dropped right through the club that to compete in all of the competitions available requires a larger squad of high quality players to spread the load and hopefully result in fewer injuries.
It’ll be interesting on Sunday to see how Laia gets on against the England attack!
Wonderful! I wasn’t expecting to see this until next week.
What is the price?
Great job in breaking the news, Tim. When even Spanish media are crediting you, you know you’re doing something right.
Kool! Extra angle to the World Cup Final.
Doubling up with starter quality in every position is the only way to compete with Chelski.
If she ends up using us as as stepping stone to the Barca first team (the same way Ona Battle used Man United) I hope we at least win trophies together before she returns to them.
Exactly my thought.
She never gets the chance at Barcelona, and we already know how much these Spanish players adores their Barcelona.
i know for sure she would be heading back home after her improvement with us. 👍
Another good signing for our defense 🙂
Lets get Elin Rubensson from the Swedish team too.
She has been one of the best midfielders in this World Cup and would be a very good signing for our team at her position.
Great addition and needed. Only concern is Russo and Codina kicking lumps out of each other tomorrow.
She sure took a beating in the final… hopefully she is fine.