England ace Alessia Russo joins Arsenal for free after record bid | OneFootball

Arsenal have completed a deal to sign Alessia Russo for free just months after making a world record bid for the striker.

Russo was the subject of a £500k offer in January, a fee that would have made her the most expensive player in the history of the women’s game. But that bid was rejected by Manchester United, who have now lost the 24-year-old for nothing.

The striker scored 22 WSL goals in 46 appearances for United, the club she supported growing up, across the the last three seasons, netting 10 times in 2022/23 as the club finished second in the league.

Russo has also found the net 11 times in 21 England appearances, most famously scoring a sensational backheel against Sweden in last summer’s European Championship semi-final.

But she will now play for Arsenal instead of United as the two clubs enter the Champions League qualifying rounds and her former club compete in the competition for the first time.