Arsenal Women are on the verge of pulling off one of the smartest signings of the summer. Spanish international goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez is set to join the Gunners on a free transfer after leaving Real Madrid at the end of her contract. The news, first broken by COPE journalist Andrea Peláez Marzo, has sent ripples through the women’s football world. And for good reason.
Why would a club that already boasts Daphne van Domselaar, Anneke Borbe, and Isabella Damm between the posts go out and sign another top-level keeper? The answer lies in a pattern of injuries that Arsenal simply can’t afford to ignore heading into 2026-27.
Who Is Misa Rodriguez?
María Isabel Rodríguez Rivero — known simply as Misa — is a 26-year-old goalkeeper from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. She joined Real Madrid in 2020 at just 21 years old, back when the club’s women’s team was still in its infancy.
Over six seasons, she became their most-capped player in history with 215 appearances. That’s not a stat you stumble into. Real Madrid’s official farewell statement on June 10 described her as someone who always represented the club’s values.
Before Madrid, Misa had stints at Atletico Madrid’s youth setup and Deportivo La Coruña. She won the Zamora Trophy twice — awarded to Liga F’s best goalkeeper — in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
On the international stage, her CV reads even better:
- Part of Spain’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning squad
- Nations League winner with Spain in 2024
- Currently competing with Barcelona’s Cata Coll for the national team’s No.1 jersey
Marca reports that Misa wanted to challenge herself in a different league. The WSL, with its physicality and pace, certainly qualifies.
Why Arsenal Need Her
This signing might look surprising on paper. Van Domselaar is a hugely talented keeper who arrived from Aston Villa in 2024 and quickly established herself as first choice under Renee Slegers.
But here’s the problem — she can’t stay fit.
Van Domselaar’s injury history over the past 18 months tells its own story. A concussion in March 2025. Two separate ankle injuries in April and May 2025. A quad issue in December 2025 that kept her out until late January 2026. And she missed the most recent Netherlands squad due to a persistent issue she’s still managing.
As Arseblog’s Tim Stillman noted in the comments of his own report, ongoing fitness concerns over van Domselaar could well be driving this signing.
Anneke Borbe impressed during her spells filling in — keeping five clean sheets in seven games during one stretch — but Arsenal’s ambitions in the WSL and Champions League demand elite depth. Misa provides exactly that. She isn’t coming to sit on the bench and wait. She’s coming to compete.
Arsenal also confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Danish goalkeeper Isabella Damm from Brondby, with director of women’s football Clare Wheatley calling her one of the best young keepers in Europe for her age group. That’s three goalkeepers added to the squad this summer if you include Misa. The message is clear: Arsenal won’t be caught short again.
The Bigger Picture for Slegers’ Rebuild
Misa’s expected arrival would make her the seventh signing of a remarkably busy summer for Arsenal Women. Renee Slegers has already brought in Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich, Ona Batlle, Selina Cerci, Geraldine Reuteler, Lisa Baum, and the young Damm.
What’s striking is the value. Four of the five senior signings arrived on free transfers. Arsenal have rebuilt without breaking the bank, and nearly every deal adds genuine quality.
Misa will also find familiar faces in the dressing room. Spanish teammates Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle are already at the club. That kind of connection matters when you’re adjusting to a new country and a new league.
There’s a thorn, though, that Real Madrid fans won’t let Misa forget. Despite her record-breaking stint, she never lifted a trophy in Madrid. No league title. No Copa de la Reina. No Champions League. She leaves with that particular itch unscratched.
At Arsenal — a club that won the Champions League in 2024-25 and reached the semis last season — the opportunity to finally add silverware to her career feels very real.
This is the kind of deal that looks smart now and could look brilliant by May. A World Cup winner, a two-time Zamora Trophy holder, and a proven international — all arriving for free. If van Domselaar’s fitness holds up, Arsenal have two elite-level keepers pushing each other every day in training. If it doesn’t, they’ve got a ready-made replacement who’s already performed on the biggest stages in the game.
Either way, Renee Slegers wins.
