The WSL’s all-time leading goalscorer Vivianne Miedema has joined Manchester City from Arsenal as a free agent.
The 27-year-old left North London at the end of June after her contract expired, with the Gunners deciding not to offer her a new deal.
It came as a shock that Arsenal did not want to retrain the Dutch international, who has scored 125 goals in 172 appearances for the club.
She did tear her anterior cruciate ligament in December 2022, limiting her game time to just eight appearances over the last two seasons.
But she has now put pen to paper on a three-year deal, keeping her in Manchester until 2027.
Speaking for the first time as a City player, Miedema said: “The reason I chose City is because they have the same ambitions as me – they want to win the league and titles.
BREAKING: Vivianne Miedema joins Manchester City on a three-year deal ✍️🔵 pic.twitter.com/ViOoIyXwf3
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) July 5, 2024
“I’ve always said I want to play with the best players in the world and I think City have got that.
“I haven’t played as much football as I would have wished over the past two years, but I think and hope my best years are still to come.
“I hope I’m going to be able to help the team as much as I can do.
“In the end, it was an easy choice for me. I want to challenge myself every day in training, but also every single week in the games we play.”
City missed out on the WSL title on the final day last season, with Chelsea winning their fifth in a row under Emma Hayes.
But with the successful manager leaving for the USA, there is renewed hope that City can push on and become the new dominant force in England.
And with the signing of Miedema, there is certainly a better chance of that happening now.
