Arsenal sign Mariona Caldentey from Barcelona

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Mariona Caldentey from Barcelona, with the Spanish forward signing a five-year contract.

Caldentey, 28, brings a wealth of experience and success from her decade-long tenure at Barcelona, where she won 25 titles and became the club’s fifth all-time top scorer with 114 goals in 302 appearances.

Caldentey’s move to Arsenal marks a significant addition to the squad as they prepare for the upcoming season.

"I’m so happy to be here,” Caldentey told Arsenal.com.

“This is the right time for a new challenge for me, and Arsenal is the perfect place. I think what Arsenal are doing as a club is amazing – on and off the pitch. I love the way we want to play as a team and I think there’s a strong mentality building here."

Caldentey’s career began at Collerense, where she made her senior debut in 2011.

She joined Barcelona in 2014 and quickly established herself as a key player. Her tenure at Barcelona was decorated with numerous accolades, including six Liga F titles, three UEFA Women’s Champions Leagues, six Spanish Cups, four Spanish Super Cups, and six Catalan Cups.

Internationally, Caldentey has scored 26 goals in 72 matches for Spain and was part of the squad that won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2023/24 UEFA Nations League.

Arsenal’s head coach, Jonas Eidevall, expressed his enthusiasm for the new signing.

“Mariona is a world-class forward and we are delighted to bring her to Arsenal. She’s a winner with proven experience of excelling on the biggest stage, which is exactly where we aim to be at this club. We believe Mariona will be a superb addition to our squad here at Arsenal, as we prepare for an exciting new season together.”