Ona Batlle to Arsenal looks more than likely, with rumours that the deal is close to being finalised on a free transfer, as her contract with Barcelona expires this summer.
Agent Lucy Bronze clearly is not working hard enough, given that her partner is moving to her current club's mortal enemy. Bronze's contract runs out this summer, but there have been rumours that she is in positive talks to stay at Chelsea, though she is known not to do contract extensions.
Given the financial situation that Barcelona faces, it is no surprise that another summer transfer window will come and go with big stars leaving and not many players signed. Though it has been reported that the club has attempted to get her to extend,d she is set to return to England.
This would not be Batlle's first time in the WSL; she previously spent time with Manchester United. She signed on another free and was there from 2020 to 2023, during which she established herself as one of the best full-backs in the league, making 77 appearances and scoring three goals across all competitions. She joined Barcelona on a green card in 2023 to rejoin her childhood club after rejecting multiple contract extension offers from United.
This possible move will come as a massive blow to the Spanish side, who do not want to lose the 26-year-old, but they have already started exploring what possible replacement could be available on the market.
She is a technically skilled full-back who often operates as a wing-back, with the versatility to play on both the left and right flanks. This could mean she might be coming to Arsenal to replace either Emily Fox or Katie McCabe, who are right and left backs whose contracts end this summer (McCabe) and next summer (Fox), respectively, though extension talks have only been held with Fox. While Arsenal fans will be delighted by the possible transfer, they will likely be more concerned about who she would be coming in to replace.
She has become a regular starter for both club and country and has made 31 appearances in all competitions this season alone.
She went through the academy system at Barcelona but also had spells at Madrid CFF and Levante.
She has won back-to-back Liga F titles at Barça, with a third likely to follow as soon as this week, and one Champions League, but was on the losing side in last year's final against Arsenal.
The two teams remain on track for a rematch in this year's final in Oslo.
Barça face Bayern Munich in the semifinal, while Arsenal take on French champions OL Lyon in a two-legged semi final.
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