The Arsenal has signed the USWNT’s defender Jenna Nighwonger on the NWSL NJ/NY Gotham side in a permanent transfer.
The news was broken earlier this week than the Gunners had confirmed his interest in the defender and had reached an agreement with the New York side. Nighwonger’s contract was foresight at the end of 2025 Nwsl Season, that is, he would have had the opportunity to explore the free agency in November.
It has spent the last two seasons with Gotham, bringing home NWSL’s Home for 2023 NWSL in his debut season. The defender saw that his play time decreased in the 2024 campaign, fighting for an initial position with Juan Carlos Amoros.
The defender confirmed the news of his departure from New York through social networks on Thursday morning, saying -the fans that “NJ will always be a place I call home”.
Nighswonger was a member of the United States Women’s National Selection Squad that took the gold at home at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with four of the six accessories. Making a senior debut in the nation in 2023, since then has appeared on the world stage 18 times.
Mainly, in its left trade, the versatile defender can also play in the center and in the midfield when a call is made. Nighswonger’s arrival will provide the main Renee Slegers coach a great deal of depth in defense, as well as the ability to push Katie McCabe above the pitch when needed.
The 24 -year -old becomes Arsenal’s Only the signing of the January transfer window, after a good number of departures from the North London Club. The perspectives of the Vivianne Lia Academy, Laila Harbart, Maddy Earl and Freya Godfrey explore all loans, while Kathrine Kuhl starts from As Rome in a permanent transfer.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Nighwonger said. “I always wanted to play England and unite -to a 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 -me to me Arsenal and I can’t wait to start. “
The director of women’s football Clare Wheatley spoke about the signing, saying “we are happy to take Jenna to the club and strengthen our squad in a key area in a second half of the season and beyond.
“Jenna has already won trophies with both the club and the country, but it has a clear potential for growth and future development, so we are sure that it will make a great contribution here to Arsenal. I am sure our wonderful followers s ‘They will join me to welcome Jenna and her family to the club. “
