Arsenal Women have rebuilt almost every area of Renée Slegers’ squad through five major outfield additions this summer.
Georgia Stanway, Selina Cerci, Géraldine Reuteler and Ona Batlle arrived after leaving their previous clubs. Arsenal also paid a reported £510,000 to sign teenage winger Lisa Baum from RB Leipzig.
Teenage goalkeeper Isabella Damm has since become the sixth arrival listed on Arsenal’s official 2026/27 transfer tracker. However, the first five deals reveal the main tactical thinking behind the rebuild.
Arsenal needed to lower the average age of their squad and replace several established players. Beth Mead and Katie McCabe were among the major departures, while Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova also moved on.
Stanway and Batlle raise Arsenal’s level
Stanway should immediately strengthen Arsenal’s control in central midfield.
Since joining Bayern Munich in 2022, she completed 2,919 passes in the opposition half. No other Frauen-Bundesliga player reached 2,200 during the same period.
She also led the division for successful passes into the final third, while contributing 24 goals and 19 assists. Those numbers underline her ability to influence matches from deeper areas.
Arsenal’s official announcement of Stanway’s signing also highlighted eight trophies across four seasons with Bayern. Her arrival gives Slegers another proven winner and reduces the reliance on 36-year-old captain Kim Little.
Batlle offers similar experience at full-back. She won three Liga F titles and two Champions Leagues during her time with Barcelona.
The Spain international also produced 16 assists in Liga F across her three seasons at the club. No defender registered more during that period.
Her ability to play on either side should help replace McCabe while providing cover for Emily Fox. Batlle can also move inside during the build-up, giving Arsenal another way to control possession.
Cerci and Reuteler add goals and flexibility
Cerci gives Arsenal another clinical centre-forward.
The Germany international scored 32 goals in 43 Frauen-Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim. Her 25.4% shot-conversion rate comfortably exceeded the figures recorded by Alessia Russo and Stina Blackstenius during the same period.
Slegers can now rotate her central attackers without losing a proven penalty-area presence. Cerci also offers valuable cover while Michelle Agyemang continues her recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Reuteler brings a different profile. The Switzerland international has played in central midfield, as a number 10 and across the front line.
She recorded 29 goals and 25 assists across 104 league appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt. Her involvement in possession also separates her from many traditional attackers.
ReadArsenal’s recent analysis of the six arrivals and six departures explained how Slegers is changing player profiles rather than finding direct replacements.
Reuteler can connect midfield and attack, while Cerci provides movement beyond the defence. Together, they should make Arsenal less predictable.
Baum gives Arsenal long-term potential
Baum represents the long-term element of the rebuild.
The 19-year-old scored six league goals during her only season with Leipzig. She also led her team for completed dribbles and ranked second for successful crosses.
Baum can operate across the right side and has already shown a willingness to contribute defensively. She won 32 tackles last season, placing her among Leipzig’s leading players in that area.
ReadArsenal’s report on Baum’s permanent arrival outlined how her pace can give Slegers another option against compact defences.
She should not carry the same immediate responsibility as Stanway or Batlle. Arsenal can manage her minutes while experienced players support her development.
The five additions have given Slegers more passing quality, stronger finishing and greater positional flexibility. Arsenal still need time to build partnerships, but the individual profiles fit together well.
Their recruitment has addressed clear weaknesses without simply replacing popular departing players with similar names. Arsenal now have a younger and more adaptable squad capable of mounting another WSL title challenge.
