Former Manchester United striker Alessia Russo confirms move to Arsenal

Former Manchester United striker Alessia Russo has confirmed she will join Women’s Super League side Arsenal.

The 24-year-old joins Jonas Eidevall’s ranks for the upcoming 2023/24 season penning a deal to keep her in the English top tier in a permanent move.

Russo scored 26 goals in 59 appearances for United since joining in 2020. Her history in the English top-tier spans back to 2016 with Chelsea, where she made her senior debut in the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup. A year later, she moved to Brighton & Hove Albion making her first appearance in the Women’s Super League at the south-coast club.

The striker then moved to the USA to play college football with the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she lined up alongside new teammate defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Russo said: “I’m really excited to be here and I can’t wait to get going,” said Alessia. “I want to win trophies – as does everyone in this club. I can’t wait to get stuck in and grow as a player – it’s a new challenge and a new environment.

“I think the growth of the women’s game has been incredible, but particularly at a club like Arsenal. The sell-out against Wolfsburg at Emirates Stadium last season was fantastic, and I’m just really excited to be part of this club.”

Arsenal expressed their interest in United’s number nine back in January, subsequently offering the club a record fee to ply her trade in North London, which the Reds denied. Yet Manchester United failed to agree a new deal with the striker, resulting in her decision to part ways.

It's an interesting move for Russo, considering United had a stronger 2022/23 campaign finishing second in the table; two points behind Chelsea and yet nine ahead of third-place Arsenal to round off the top three