"I'm excited for a new challenge"- Alessia Russo on Joining Arsenal

England female international, Alessia Russo has joined Arsenal on a permanent deal.

The Football Club in a release on Tuesday, says, Alessia will wear the number 23 shirt, noting the deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.

The 24-year-old joins the Arsenal following the expiry of her contract with Manchester United.

Alessia spent her youth career with Charlton Athletic and Chelsea, where she made her senior debut in the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup in 2016. A move to Brighton & Hove Albion followed in 2017, with Alessia making her first appearance in the Women’s Super League at the south-coast club.

The forward then moved to the USA to play college football with the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she lined up alongside our defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.

In 2020, Alessia joined Manchester United, where she scored 26 goals in 59 appearances in all competitions in her three years with the club.

At international level, Alessia has scored 11 goals in 21 appearances for the Lionesses and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Women’s European Championship on home soil in 2022. 

Alessia scored four goals in the tournament, including a memorable backheel in the semi-final against Sweden which was named Goal of the Tournament by UEFA and was later nominated for the 2022 FIFA Puskas Award.

“I’m really excited to be here and I can’t wait to get going. I want to win trophies – as does everyone in this club. I can’t wait to get stuck in and grow as a player – it’s a new challenge and a new environment.”, Alessia said in an interview.

She continued: “I think the growth of the women’s game has been incredible, but particularly at a club like Arsenal. The sell-out against Wolfsburg at Emirates Stadium last season was fantastic, and I’m just really excited to be part of this club.”

Head Coach Jonas Eidevall said: “Alessia is one of the best forwards in the world and has significant potential to continue growing and improving. She has a proven track record of scoring goals in the WSL and at international level and we believe she will be a quality addition to our forward line, so we’re all delighted to have brought her to the club.”

Head of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said: “We’re delighted to have signed Alessia and I’m sure our supporters will be excited by this news. Alessia is a very talented footballer who fits the profile of player we want to bring to this club. We believe she has a high ceiling for further development and we are confident that we can go to the next level together.”