Manchester City have completed the signing of the Women’s Super League’s all-time top scorer Vivianne Miedema on a free transfer from Arsenal.
She has signed a three-year deal to keep her at the club until 2027 and becomes City’s first addition of the summer window.
Miedema departed Arsenal at the end of last season following the conclusion of her contract, with the north London club opting not to offer her a new deal.
The 27-year-old is a two-time WSL Golden Boot winner, having scored 79 league goals across seven seasons at Arsenal.
“The reason I chose City is because they have the same ambitions as me,” Miedema said. “They want to win the league and titles. Looking to the future, I’ve always said I want to play with the best players in the world and I think City have got that.
“I haven’t played as much football as I would have wished over the past two years, but I think and hope my best years are still to come. I hope I’m going to be able to help the team as much as I can do.
“I am just really excited to be part of the team and for the girls to hopefully help me and get me back to my best.”
(Isaac Parkin/Manchester City FC))
Miedema joined Arsenal from Bayern Munich in 2017 and provided 125 goals and 50 assists in 172 appearances in all competitions for the club.
She finished as the WSL’s top scorer during the 2018-19 season as Arsenal won the league title for the first time in seven years. The Netherlands forward won a second successive Golden Boot in the 2019-20 season and also helped secure three Continental Cup successes during her time at the club.
However, the forward’s final two seasons at Arsenal were disrupted by injury after she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in December 2022, ruling her out for the remainder of the campaign. She then underwent minor knee surgery in February 2024, limiting her game time during the second half of the season.
Her move to City, who missed out on last season’s WSL title on goal difference, sees her link up with international team-mates Jill Roord and Kerstin Casparij.
City last won the WSL title in 2016 and have finished as top-flight runners-up a record seven times.
“Our ambition is to compete on the highest stage and for the highest honours, and Viv is aligned to this desire,” head coach Gareth Taylor said.
“She’s a top talent that I’m excited to work with as she’s a player I’ve always admired. Viv will be a real asset to the team.”
City set to benefit from Miedema in her peak years
Analysis from the Athletic’s Jessy Parker Humphreys
Vivianne Miedema will have been one of the most in-demand free agents of the summer so her arrival is a big coup for City. Having left Arsenal following the expiry of her contract, the three-year deal means City are set to benefit from the 27-year-old during her peak years.
The versatility of the all-time WSL top goalscorer will be a big plus for Gareth Taylor’s side. With Bunny Shaw excelling up front, it is unlikely she will get significant minutes as a striker but offers a very different kind of option for the team.
More likely, she will play as the number 10 as she has done for the past two seasons at Arsenal. She has never hit the same heights in that position as she has further up the pitch but an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in December 2022, and its subsequent recovery, has hindered her opportunity to show what she can do.
Crucially, she adds experience and depth to a City side that have needed reinforcements if they are to compete on four fronts next season.
In a recent interview, Miedema emphasised the importance to her of playing in the Champions League — a competition which City have struggled in in recent years. Her decision to sign with them regardless of that is a strong vote of confidence in the direction that the club are going.
(Isaac Parkin/Manchester City FC)
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