Jordan Nobbs leaves Arsenal as Lionesses star joins WSL rival

Aston Villa have signed England midfielder Jordan Nobbs from WSL title contenders Arsenal.

Nobbs, 30, has won 69 caps for the Lionesses and joins the Midlands outfit on a an 18-month contract, with an option to extend further. In her time at Arsenal Nobbs won three WSL titles, four Women's FA Cups and five FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cups.

Villa Manager Carla Ward said: "This is a big signing for us and Jordan is one of the country's most decorated footballers. She's a winner and will bring a wealth of experience that her new teammates will thrive off."

"We're delighted to secure her signature and we hope this move can help the football club as well as cement her place back in the international set-up."

Nobbs will be hoping the move helps her win her place back in the England side, having missed out on the squad that won Euro 2022 when she sustained a knee injury. The former Sunderland star also missed the last FIFA Women's World Cup in 2019 and is determined not to miss another major tournament next summer.

The midfielder had struggled to be start consistently for Arsenal this season with manager Jonas Eidevall often leaving her on the bench. In total she leaves Arsenal having made 270 appearances and scored 81 goals, as well as lifting her 12 major trophies.

Her arrival represents another major move in the transfer market for an ambitious Villa, who brought in WSL top scorer Rachel Daly and Kenza Dali last summer. They current sit seventh in the table ahead of the league's resumption in two weeks time.

But if they see the best of Nobbs in the second half of the season, Ward's team will be confident of securing a top-six finish. Nobbs was named the FA Player of the Year in 2016 and the FA Players' Player of the Year in 2017, as she became one of the true greats of Arsenal's modern-era.

"Jordan has been a wonderful servant to Arsenal Football Club," said Sporting Director and former midfielder Edu Gaspar. "Over the past 12 years, she has written her name into the Arsenal history books and forged a deep connection with our loyal supporters.

"We would like to wish Jordan health, happiness and success on and off the pitch in the future - she is a member of the Arsenal family for life."

Head of Women's Football Clare Wheatley added: "Jordan has been an integral part of this football club for over a decade and her contribution and achievements are clear to see.

"She embodies what it means to be a Gunner and will go down as a true Arsenal legend. We wish her all the very best in this next chapter and look forward to welcoming her back here as our guest whenever she likes."

Arsenal are expected to make new signings of their own this month, having already lost Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema to long-term ACL injuries prior to Nobbs' departure.

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