In just fourteen days, Arsenal Women have reshaped their squad with five permanent signings, turning what looked like a summer of upheaval into one of the sharpest recruitment windows in WSL history.
The departures of Beth Mead, Katie McCabe, and Manuela Zinsberger left real gaps. Mead alone had spent a decade in north London. Losing that much experience could easily derail a title push.
Instead, Arsenal went on the offensive.
Georgia Stanway arrived from Bayern Munich on 3 July. Selina Cerci followed from Hoffenheim. Géraldine Reuteler came in from Eintracht Frankfurt. Then Ona Batlle signed from Barcelona. And on 14 July, teenager Lisa Baum completed the set from RB Leipzig.
Here’s what makes it even more impressive — four of the five came without a transfer fee. Only Baum required a reported €600,000 fee, a Bundesliga record for a departing player, according to BILD via Daily Cannon.
That’s elite-level squad building on a budget.
Stanway and Batlle Headline the Arrivals
Stanway is arguably the marquee signing. The England international won four consecutive Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokal trophies with Bayern. She’s also a double European Championship winner.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m so proud to be joining Arsenal,” Stanway said on Arsenal.com. “This is a massive club that is driving the women’s game forward to new levels.”
She’ll wear the number 4 shirt. Arseblog News reported it’s a three-year deal with an option for a fourth.
Then there’s Batlle. A World Cup winner with Spain. Two Champions League titles with Barcelona. Named in the FIFA Women’s Best XI in both 2024 and 2025. She can play on either flank, which is crucial after McCabe’s departure to Chelsea.
According to Goal.com, Arsenal beat Chelsea and London City Lionesses to her signature. She signed a four-year contract on her 27th birthday.
Can you name a better pair of free transfers in women’s football this summer? It’s tough.
Cerci, Reuteler, and Baum Add Depth Everywhere
Cerci brings goals — lots of them. She scored 34 in 47 appearances across two seasons at Hoffenheim and topped the Bundesliga for combined goals and assists last season. beIN Sports noted that only Klara Buhl managed more assists in the German top flight in 2025-26.
Slegers called her a player with “impressive goalscoring numbers” and praised her physicality and work ethic. She won’t necessarily displace Alessia Russo right away, but she gives Slegers real options through the middle and out wide.
Reuteler operates in that tricky space between midfield and attack. The Swiss international made 184 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt and can drift across multiple positions. Alongside Stanway, she gives Arsenal something they lacked last season — ball progression and scoring threat from deep.
And then there’s Baum. At just 19, she’s the project signing. Born in Tanzania, raised in Germany, she helped Hamburg climb from the third division to the Bundesliga before moving to Leipzig. She’s direct, athletic, and left-footed on the right wing.
BBC Sport confirmed Arsenal signed her on a three-year deal. Barcelona, Lyon, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich were all reportedly interested.
Here’s a quick look at all five arrivals:
- Georgia Stanway, 27 — central midfield — from Bayern Munich (free)
- Selina Cerci, 26 — forward — from Hoffenheim (free)
- Géraldine Reuteler, 27 — midfield/forward — from Eintracht Frankfurt (free)
- Ona Batlle, 27 — full-back — from Barcelona (free)
- Lisa Baum, 19 — winger — from RB Leipzig (reported €600,000)
Can Arsenal End Their WSL Title Drought?
Arsenal haven’t won the WSL since 2019. Last season, they finished second, four points behind Manchester City. They also fell in the Champions League semi-finals to Lyon.
So is this enough?
On paper, the squad looks considerably stronger. Stanway controls midfield. Batlle raises the defensive ceiling. Cerci adds reliable finishing. Reuteler connects the lines. Baum gives Slegers a raw, exciting weapon off the bench.
Goal.com highlighted that Arsenal had the oldest squad in the WSL last season. These signings bring the average age down while adding peak-years quality across the pitch.
There are still questions. Arsenal might need another centre-back. A third goalkeeper wouldn’t hurt either. And integration matters — none of these five have kicked a competitive ball for Arsenal yet.
But the direction is clear. This isn’t a club patching holes. It’s a club rebuilding with purpose, speed, and serious ambition. Pre-season will tell us how quickly these pieces click together.
For now, though? Arsenal Women have had one of the most impressive transfer windows in recent WSL memory. And they might not even be finished.
