Arsenal succession planning and recruitment

As the women professional transfer window in England will open on the first of January and conclude on the 30 January, there is a question mark about the new FIFA temporary regulations due to the Diarra ruling.

Unfortunately for the clubs, and in a good way for the players, the European Court of Justice has started to dismantle the transfer system installed by FIFA and it could have the same messy implications as the Bosman ruling a few decades ago. But things are not super clear at the moment.

Nevertheless, it means there will be easier opportunities to sign players and probably less in fees to pay for a player move.

Now, if we look at the club’s succession planning, there is a core group of players who potentially could be replaced in the next two seasons: Kim Little (34), Lia Wälti (31), Amanda Ilestedt (31) Steph Catley (30), Caitlin Foord (30), Beth Mead (29), Lina Hurtig (29), Manuela Zinsberger (29), and Katie McCabe (29).

Some of those players can clearly carry on playing for the club and perform well for the next two seasons or more without problems. Besides the goalkeeper position, which is a very specific role and van Domselaar seems to have taken the number 1 shirt now, we have two central midfielders, two left-backs and three wingers on that list.

This means, there is a clear need to get one player in each position either in January or during the Summer. We already know that one of the central midfield targets is Keira Walsh and she would be a quality signing for sure. We also know that last summer the club was looking for a fast winger, but did not manage to find one, so the recruitment team is clearly working on it too.

Then the left-back position needs to be reviewed especially as Steph Catley has been increasingly used as a left center-back rather than left-back. So the question is whether to sign a left-footed center-back or a left-footed left-back, or both.

Finding a top quality player at the right age in that position is not easy, we know for example that England do not have a regular left footed left-back and it is a tough market. The same thing apply for a left center-back. Naomi Girma is a name that would certainly be a great signing if the player was interested.

The turmoil at PSG means Marie-Antoinette Katoto will leave in the Summer on a free and is therefore a huge opportunity to upgrade one of the striker position. While her club teammate, Grace Geyoro – a box to box player -might be availaible now, should the Keira Walsh deal not materialise in the January window.

In term of young forwards, 18 years old Alara Sehitler is a very promising player at FC Bayern and it would be interesting to develop her alongside our senior forwards. And if we are looking at a young striker, looking no further than Nina Matejic the 19-year-old from Serbia, who has just finished as the top UEFA goalscorer in all competitions (club and country). Frida Maanum finished third in that ranking.

We also have to remember in terms of succession planning that we have multiple youngsters under professional contracts that are not fully ready to compete, but are close and probably need six months to a full year playing first team football.

That list includes Katie Reid and Teyah Goldie at centre-back, Freya Godfrey on the wing, and Michelle Agyemang as a striker. We also have Maddy Earl, Vivienne Lia, and Laila Harbert without a professional contract but who could become first-team players soon too.

The January transfer window should be interesting for the Arsenal, but I would really expect the Summer ’25 to be busy with renewals and new signings.