Experienced defender Amanda Ilestedt has turn out to be Arsenal Women’s first summer season signing.
The Swedish centre-back makes the change to north London following a two-year spell with French aspect Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners stay wanting defensive choices after Leah Williamson suffered a long-term knee harm in April and centre-back companion Rafaelle Souza departed the membership the next month.
The 30-year-old, who has been capped for Sweden 64 occasions, joins up with Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall for a second time after the pair labored collectively at FC Rosengard, successful two league titles.
Ilestedt has been chosen to signify Sweden at this summer season’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Eidevall stated: “I’m delighted Amanda has joined us right here at Arsenal.
“She brings extensive international experience and I believe she has a great mix of presence and technical ability, making her an ideal fit for our squad.”
Amanda Ilestedt is worldwide team-mates with Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius
“I’m really excited and happy to be here,” stated Ilestedt. “My goal is to win titles and this is a great club with great players and fantastic facilities, so I believe this is the right place for me to achieve that.
“There is an actual sense of momentum round this membership and the assist has been fantastic – I am unable to wait to stroll out onto the pitch within the Arsenal package.”
Analysis: Ilestedt perfect cover for Williamson
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:
“The harm blow to Leah Williamson and the summer season departure of standard centre-back companion Rafaelle Souza made it very obvious Arsenal have to make defensive cowl a precedence on this window.
“The signing of Amanda Ilestedt, while slightly older than most of Arsenal’s summer targets, makes sense on that basis alone. She is the profile of defender that will suit Arsenal’s progressive style of play – as Jonas Eidevall notes, “presence and technical skill” combined. Her experience will also be welcome as Eidevall attempts to build a more complete squad in the wake of last season’s injury crisis – Eidevall has worked with Ilestedt to good effect previously.
“Arsenal fell a way wanting the Women’s Super League title final time period, and the latter phases of their luckless marketing campaign uncovered a considerably threadbare squad. They pushed so far as they may and coped effectively contemplating, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, however an apparent lack of energy in depth was evident.
“Eidevall admitted as much himself in May: ‘It has to be a very big transfer window for us this summer, given both last summer and winter windows were not good enough for us.’
“Arsenal shipped 5 targets of their last three WSL fixtures, greater than their earlier eight mixed. And with Williamson attributable to be sidelined till at the least December, defensive choices are in brief provide. This signing is a crucial however good addition.”
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