Transfer Centre

Arsenal 'closing in on Alessia Russo signing'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 15 June 2023

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Manchester United attacker Alessia Russo on a free transfer when her contract expires at the end of the month.

Arsenal Women are reportedly edging closer to the signing of Manchester United Women's attacker Alessia Russo.

Following season-ending ACL injuries to Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema over the winter, the Gunners tried and failed to prise Russo away from Man United in the January window.

Arsenal are believed to have come forward with a world-record bid of just under £500,000 on deadline day, surpassing the £400,000 that Barcelona paid Manchester City for Keira Walsh in 2022.

Man United rebuffed Arsenals advances, but the Red Devils are now at risk of losing Russo on a free transfer when her contract expires at the end of the month.

Marc Skinner previously expressed confidence that Russo would sign a new deal, and Man United have apparently indicated that they will match her wage demands, but an agreement does not appear to be forthcoming.

Instead, Arseblog News reports that Arsenal are now on the verge of agreeing a deal to bring the 24-year-old to North London for the 2023-24 season after reigniting talks with her camp.

Russo was apparently the subject of interest from the Gunners upon her departure from American college team North Carolina Tar Heels in 2020, but the England international opted to join Man United instead.

Alessia Russo in action for Manchester United Women on September 17, 2022 © Reuters

Since touching down in Manchester, Russo has steadily improved to score 27 goals in 59 appearances for the Red Devils, registering a personal best of 13 from 24 games in the 2022-23 season.

The former Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion attacker notched 10 goals in 20 Women's Super League games as Man United finished second in the table behind Chelsea, nine points better off than Arsenal in third.

However, Arsenal are said to have the edge over Man United in talks with Russo's representatives and are confident of wrapping up a deal for the English forward ahead of the new season.

Russo will soon link up with the England team for their pre-World Cup training camp on June 19 on the back of a successful Euro 2022 campaign as the Lionesses were crowned continental champions on home soil.

The 24-year-old scored four goals in six substitute appearances for England at last year's championships, including a backheel in their semi-final win over Sweden, which was nominated for the Puskas Award.

Russo boasts a total of 11 goals in 21 appearances for Sarina Wiegman's team, most recently netting in a 4-0 Arnold Clark Cup win over South Korea in February.