By Isabelle Campbell 29/8/25
Above: Mariona Caldentey. Photo: Arsenal Football Club
Arsenal have been busy this transfer window and have increased their chances of catching Chelsea at the top. Isabelle Campbell looks at the impact the new arrivals can have.
With the first matches of the 24/25 Women’s Super League season just around the corner, Arsenal Women are gearing up for what fans hope will be an ambitious campaign following a disappointing third-place finish in the previous season.
Club manager Jonas Eidevall has brought in a handful of strategic signings handpicked to elevate his club’s performance. As the club looks to challenge for both domestic and European honours, these new additions are positioned to make an impact.
From filling holes left by departures to strengthening key positions and adding further depth and experience, Arsenal’s acquisitions in this transfer window reveal their drive to return to the peak of women’s football.
An exciting start
Arsenal Women began the transfer window by securing the services of World Cup winning Spanish forward Mariona Caldentey, a decisive move in their quest for success. The signing of the 28-year-old signals a significant step forward for the English club, as they aim to enhance their offensive capabilities and compete at the highest levels of women’s football.
Caldentey’s arrival at the club marks a crucial move in filling the space left by the recent departure of WSL top goal scorer Vivianne Miedema. While both players excel in creating scoring opportunities, they exhibit distinct styles of play. Miedema, well-known as a central striker, is notorious for her precision and positioning in front of goal.
In contrast, Caldentey’s versatility allows her to shine as both a winger and in a deeper supporting position. Despite the challenge of filling Miedema’s shoes, Caldentey’s diverse skill set and expertise in the forward line offer a promising solution to maintaining and possibly enhancing Arsenal’s offensive capabilities.
Caldentey’s versatility along the forward line is a significant asset for any team she plays for.
Capable of playing as a central striker, a winger, or in a supporting attacking role, she offers head coach Jonas Eidevall a considerable level of tactical flexibility. This versatility allows Eidevall to utilise her strategically based on any opposition’s weaknesses, providing Arsenal with multiple dimensions in their attacking approach.
Taking a glance back at Mariona Caldentey’s trophy-laden 10-year stretch with European women’s football giants FC Barçelona Femeni and impressive history with the Spanish Women’s National Team is all the proof necessary to see the winning mentality and ability she possesses.
Boasting a hugely impressive personal trophy case including but by no means limited to six Liga F titles, three UEFA Women’s Champions Leagues, and of course the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Caldentey’s winning mentality brings a proven track record of success to Arsenal Women.
Arsenal Women faced several challenges last season, but one of their most notable struggles was a lack of converting scoring opportunities into goals. While they possessed a strong attacking lineup, there were often times when they struggled to break through opposing teams playing in a low block and capitalising on their chances when in possession.
Caldentey could be the perfect solution to this problem, having frequently been described as a creative player and often making unpredictable movements making her difficult to mark in and around the box.
Her arrival at Arsenal Women marks a significant growing point in the team’s attacking capabilities, tactical adaptability, and competitive drive. As a player, she not only fills a significant gap in the squad but also positions the club strongly for success in both the domestic league and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Can the Spaniard help in securing the North London club some silverware next season? No one can say for certain however it would be fair to say that this coming season, there will be plenty of eyes on Mariona Caldentey, Arsenal Women’s new number eight.
A new number 1?
The second and highly anticipated signing made by the club is that of Dutch goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar, a position that fans have been vocal about wanting the club to improve upon. Van Domselaar arrives with an impressive portfolio at both club level and on the international stage, which suggests the potential impact she can make at Arsenal. Her times at both FC Twente in the Eredivisie and more recently, Aston Villa in the WSL have helped to establish the goalkeeper as one of Europe’s rising talents.
Van Domselaar has consistently excelled throughout her club career, praised highly for her decisive saves and strong presence in the penalty area. Her skill in directing defensive play and maintaining control has earned acclaim from coaches, teammates, and fans alike, giving her the status of one of the league’s top upcoming goalkeepers.
On the international stage, Van Domselaar has quickly made herself indispensable to the Dutch national team, OranjeLeeuwinnen. She played a pivotal role in their campaign during the 2022 Women’s Euros, where her performances were instrumental in helping her nation reach the quarter-final.
This experience in a high-pressure tournament is an invaluable skill to the Arsenal squad, particularly as they read themselves for a season that will potentially hold multiple European challenges in the Champions League.
Van Domselaar’s agility and sharp reflexes make her a dynamic presence in goal.
Her ability to read the game and execute strategic distribution will also greatly help with build-up play and overall opportunity-creating moments. Daphne’s addition is likely to be a motivational push for current first-choice keeper Manuela Zinsberger as she is faced with a young new teammate fighting for the same position.
To put it simply, Daphne van Domselaar’s signing for Arsenal Women is a massive move for the club. Her career, though only short so far, is undoubtedly impressive and brings a level of skill and youth that will be crucial to the club’s quest for silverware in the upcoming season.
An addition of youth
The final signing of this transfer window comes in the form of Swedish international Rosa Kafaji. Kafaji brings fresh energy and talent to the squad. Known for her fearlessness on the pitch and clear-cut attacking instincts, the 21-year-old is expected to make an immediate impact on the team’s front line.
Her ability to operate both as a central striker and a wide forward adds valuable versatility, giving manager Jonas Eidevall more tactical options to play with. Able to play comfortably as both a central striker and a wide forward, she brings flexibility in tactical options for Jonas Eidevall and allows Arsenal to change their attacking approaches based on the opposition they are facing.
One of Kafaji’s most commended traits in her gameplay is her technical skill on the ball particularly in tight spaces. Her ability to discover and exploit gaps in a defensive line will be significant for Arsenal, especially in breaking down teams playing in a low block. With Rosa on the pitch, Arsenal should be able to play more fluidly in their attacking play, hopefully leading to more shots finding the back of the net.
Kafaji’s signing presents more than just an addition of skill, but a strategic move by the club to invest in the future of their squad. At only 21 years old, Kafaji possesses both future potential and current readiness that can be built upon and affect both the present and future of the team.
Her youth and ambition are the perfect fit for Arsenal’s long-term plans, as she has the capacity to develop into a key player in years to come.
All in all Rosa Kafaji’s signing brings a level of versatility and depth to the Arsenal Women’s team. Her addition has the potential to boost the team’s attacking capabilities and overall performance, making Arsenal a more threatening contender across all competitions.
Will this be enough to catch the champions?
Will it be enough?
Now to take a look at the signings in direct comparison to that of Arsenal Women’s top competition, 23/24 league champions Chelsea and their runners-up Manchester City.
Both rivals have strengthened in the off season, with each grabbing the headlines with an early major signing each. Chelsea Women have added to their squad, England right-back Lucy Bronze with City adding Vivianne Miedema.
Having just completed two hugely successful seasons with Barçelona Femeni, in which she helped as they went on to win just about every piece of silverware they played for, Bronze brings an invaluable level of experience.
As the team looks to extend their WSL winning streak as well as fight for European success, will Lucy Bronze be able to play a role in helping them reach these goals?
The league runner-up Manchester City, fought long and hard to the very last day of the season where they ultimately fell just short of the first-place spot. With the title place coming down to goal difference, City have sought out and acquired the all-time leading goalscorer for the WSL and former Arsenal player, Vivianne Miedema.
Adding Miedema to the already formidable forward line including the likes of Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Mary Fowler, Chloe Kelly, and Lauren Hemp shows the desire to create even more attacking play moments for the team.
Arsenal have undoubtedly strengthened their squad and targeted problem areas however the signings made by Chelsea and Manchester City hint at an intense battle ahead for the top spot.
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