Arsenal Women have confirmed the signing of French defender Elisa de Almeida from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day. The 28-year-old centre-back has agreed to a three-year contract with the North London club, with sources in France reporting a fee of around £550,000.
De Almeida becomes the eighth new arrival of a busy summer for Arsenal, who finished second in the FA Women's Super League last season. The club amassed 51 points from 22 games, with a record of 15 wins, six draws and just one defeat. Their strong recent form of four wins and a draw saw them end the campaign four points behind champions Manchester City.
Why did Arsenal move for Elisa de Almeida?
Manager Renee Slegers identified defensive reinforcements as a late priority in the window due to injury concerns. Young England centre-back Katie Reid is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is not expected to return before November. This left Arsenal with only three available senior central defenders for the start of the season, a situation the club has now addressed with this signing.
Slegers told the BBC she was pleased to add a player of de Almeida's calibre. She highlighted the defender's composure, mobility, and significant experience at the highest level as key attributes that will benefit the squad.
What experience does Elisa de Almeida bring?
The defender brings a wealth of top-level experience to the Arsenal backline. She spent five years at PSG, making over 154 appearances for the French giants and competing regularly in the Women's Champions League. Her career path included a spell at Paris FC before moving to Montpellier and then onto PSG.
At international level, de Almeida has earned 52 caps for France. She was part of the squad for the 2023 Women's World Cup and the more recent Euro 2025 tournament. This experience in major competitions is seen as a valuable addition for an Arsenal side seeking to win their first WSL title since 2019.
How does she fit into Arsenal's summer plans?
De Almeida's arrival caps a significant summer of recruitment aimed at closing the gap to Manchester City. The club had already strengthened with high-profile additions including England midfielder Georgia Stanway and Spain full-back Ona Batlle. These signings demonstrate a clear intent to build a squad capable of challenging on all fronts.
The club's defensive record last season was formidable, conceding only 14 goals while scoring 53, resulting in a +39 goal difference. Integrating a player of de Almeida's quality is intended to maintain that solidity. Fans can track the integration of all new signings via the club's official squad page.
What did Elisa de Almeida say about the move?
Speaking after the deal was confirmed, the new signing expressed her excitement. "This is a very big club and I can't wait to get started," de Almeida said. She also revealed a personal connection, adding, "I grew up watching Arsenal and seeing French players wear this jersey, so I'm proud to take this step."
Her immediate focus will be on preparing for the new WSL season, which kicks off for Arsenal with a trip to face Brighton on Sunday, 6 September. The match at Broadfield Stadium begins at 12:00 BST. Supporters can view the full schedule on the fixtures section of the site. Arsenal begin the campaign sitting second in the standings based on last season's final table, with their sights firmly set on going one better.
