Manchester City has pulled off a remarkable coup, securing the signature of WSL’s all-time leading goal scorer from Arsenal, Vivianne Miedema, on a three-year contract.
Vivianne Miedema, the forward, signed for Arsenal in 2017 and made 106 appearances for the English club where the Dutch managed to score 80 goals and was part of the Gunners’ WSL title win and three League Cup titles during her tenure at the Gunners. Adapting to play in different positions (ST, SS, CAM) made her a versatile footballer. While her contract was due last June, everything at Arsenal pointed at a potential exit.
The 28-year-old suffered a major ACL injury to her left knee in 2022, and it took a while for her to return.
North London to Manchester: Miedema’s New Chapter
Coming back from the injury, the Netherlands forward appeared in just eight matches over the past two seasons. The Netherlands international was approached by many clubs abroad, but she was more interested in joining the Manchester City squad. Speaking of her interests, the all-time leading scorer was impressed by Man City’s playing style and their commitment to the game.
Miedema said the following regarding her signing for Manchester City from arch-rivals Arsenal: “I’ve been in the league for a long, long time, and my gut feeling told me that I really wanted to stay in England. I’ve spoken to multiple clubs in England and abroad. Obviously, when I started speaking to City, I got really, really excited, mostly by the way they play but also by how other players actually talk about the club and about how things were going.
“Eventually, I think to myself, I want to challenge myself, and I know this wasn’t the easy option, obviously moving within England as well. But I got really excited about being a part of this City team, and that’s why, in the end, I followed my gut feeling by going with City.”
Viv Miedema – New Beginnings
Though the ex-Arsenal player is not in great form at the moment, the quality of football she brings to the table is immense.
The signing of Miedema to Gareth Taylor’s attacking squad is a great move.
After the final defeat against Chelsea last season, City are determined to make the right combinations this season. The Dutch player could make her debut for Manchester City on August 28 as the Blues take on Leicester City in their first friendly pre-season game.
