Alessia Russo: England striker joins Arsenal on free transfer following her departure from Man Utd

England striker Alessia Russo has joined Arsenal connected a escaped transportation pursuing her departure from Manchester United this summer.

Russo, 24, rejected respective declaration hold offers from United and near the nine aft 3 years.

"I privation to triumph trophies - arsenic does everyone successful this club," said Russo.

"I can't hold to get stuck successful and turn arsenic a player. It's a caller situation and a caller environment.

"I deliberation the maturation of the women's crippled has been incredible, but peculiarly astatine a nine similar Arsenal.

"The sell-out against Wolfsburg astatine Emirates Stadium past play was fantastic. I'm conscionable truly excited to beryllium portion of this club."

The Euro 2022 winner, who is successful the England squad for the Women's World Cup aboriginal this month, becomes Arsenal's 3rd signing this summertime pursuing the arrivals of defender Amanda Ilestedt from Paris St-Germain and striker Cloe Lacasse from Benfica.

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Russo joined United successful 2020 nether erstwhile manager Casey Stoney pursuing 2 years successful the United States astatine the University of North Carolina.

She was United's joint-top scorer successful the Women's Super League this play with 10 goals and 1 assistance successful 20 matches arsenic they finished runners-up successful the league - their highest ever finish, which ensured qualification for adjacent season's Champions League.

The centre-forward was a breakout prima astatine Euro 2022, coming disconnected the seat to people 4 times, including a memorable backheel successful the semi-finals, arsenic England won their archetypal women's large tournament.

There is contention successful the Arsenal squad for attacking positions with England's Beth Mead, the Netherlands' Vivianne Miedema - some recovering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries - Australia's Caitlin Foord and Swedish brace Stina Blackstenius and Lina Hurtig already connected the books.

Russo volition articulation her Arsenal team-mates aft the Women's World Cup, which kicks disconnected successful Australia and New Zealand connected 22 July.

The caller WSL play starts implicit the play of 29 September to 1 October.

'Russo strengthens Arsenal's squad' - analysis

BBC Sport's Emma Sanders

This is simply a stroke to United, who hoped Russo would motion a declaration hold but alternatively suffer her to a WSL rival.

It strengthens Arsenal's squad extent - which they relied upon truthful heavy past play erstwhile an wounded situation deed them connected their mode to the Champions League semi-finals.

Russo has proven herself arsenic a goalscorer successful the WSL and connected the planetary signifier but, portion she was the undisputed first-choice striker astatine United, she volition person to vie for a spot astatine Arsenal.

That should assistance her improvement to person competition, which she is starting to get utilized to astatine England, and it volition summation with the instrumentality of Arsenal's injured stars.

Arsenal person invested successful their squad nether manager Jonas Eidevall successful an effort to halt Chelsea's WSL dominance and this latest summation volition assistance them to bash that.

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