Arsenal Women have signed French defender Élisa De Almeida from Paris Saint-Germain and learned their opponents for the 2026/27 Women's Champions League. The club, which finished second in the WSL last season with 51 points, is preparing for a busy campaign across multiple fronts.
Who is new signing Élisa De Almeida?
The Guardian reported that Arsenal have signed the France defender from PSG for a fee understood to be just over £500,000. De Almeida, 28, has been given the No. 5 shirt at her new club. She made 154 appearances for PSG since 2021 and has earned 52 caps for the French national team.
Head coach Renée Slegers told the club's website she is pleased to add the experienced centre-back. Slegers highlighted De Almeida's composure, mobility and experience as key strengths. The signing provides defensive cover as Katie Reid continues her recovery from an ACL injury sustained last November.
Who will Arsenal face in the Champions League?
According to a report from Yahoo Sports, Arsenal have learned their opponents for the league phase of the 2026/27 Women's Champions League. The draw has paired them with Lyon, Barcelona, Benfica, Paris FC, HB Koge and Inter Milan. Arsenal will host Lyon, Benfica and HB Koge at home.
The team will travel to face Barcelona, Paris FC and Inter Milan in away fixtures. The league phase begins on September 22-23, with the final matchweek scheduled for December 16. You can track all the upcoming European and domestic fixtures on our fixtures page.
What is the outlook for the new WSL season?
Reuters published a season preview noting the expanded 14-team WSL kicks off this weekend. The outlet suggests champions Manchester City could face strong challenges from Arsenal and others. Arsenal ended the 2025 season just four points behind City, scoring 53 goals and conceding only 14.
CBS Sports also previewed the season, naming Canadian international Olivia Smith as a key Arsenal player to watch. Smith had five goals and three assists last term before a head injury limited her time in February. The full squad for the new campaign is now taking shape.
How can fans follow the action?
The BBC has outlined its extensive coverage plans for the 2026-27 WSL season. The broadcaster will show 25 matches live on BBC TV and iPlayer, starting with Chelsea against Aston Villa on September 5. A new weekly show called The Debrief will launch on the BBC Women's Football YouTube channel.
The BBC Sounds podcast Women's Football Weekly will also move to Mondays to review the weekend's action. For the first time, the BBC website and app will offer dedicated club pages for WSL supporters. Current standings from last season show Arsenal's strong defensive record was a foundation for their second-place finish.
The league phase of the Champions League concludes on December 16, setting the stage for the knockout rounds in the new year.
