In response to the absence of key players during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Arsenal has signed the experienced goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - DECEMBER 17: Sarah Bouhaddi is seen giving a acceptance speech on a video link after winning The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper during the The Best FIFA Football Awards on December 17, 2020 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Valeriano Di Domenico - Pool/Getty Images)
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – DECEMBER 17: Sarah Bouhaddi is seen giving a acceptance speech on a video link after winning The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper during the The Best FIFA Football Awards on December 17, 2020 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Valeriano Di Domenico – Pool/Getty Images)

With the CONCACAF Gold Cup taking place from 20 February to 10 March, three Arsenal players will likely be unavailable: Emily Fox, Cloe Lacasse, and Sabrina D’Angelo. Consequently, Arsenal have decided to sign Sarah Bouhaddi as a cover for Manuela Zinsberger in goal while D’Angelo is away.

The 37-year-old goalkeeper is a seasoned player. She has chosen her birth year, 1986, as her squad number.

Bouhaddi is a free agent, her last contract having ended in Summer 2023 when she left Paris Saint-Germain. Her career includes playing for France’s top three teams: Juvisy (now Paris FC), Olympique Lyonnais, and Paris SG, as well as OL Reign in the NWSL.

Bouhaddi has been capped by France 149 times from 2004 to 2020. Her international career ended when she decided to stop playing under Corinne Diacre. She was also excluded for a couple of seasons when the manager deemed her unwelcome due to issues with key team players at the time.

Her club honours are remarkable, including eight Women’s Champions League titles, 11 French League titles, and eight Coupe de France Feminine wins. Her primary strength is shot-stopping, and she is expected to provide adequate cover during the month-long absence of D’Angelo.

Naomi Williams, our young goalkeeper, will remain our number 3 goalie during that period.

Speaking to Arsenal.com, Bouhaddi said, “I’m delighted to be at this club.

“I always had a good feeling about Arsenal. It’s a legendary club for me.

“Both the men’s and women’s teams have always won titles. I’ve always been a fan of Arsenal, and I’m excited to be part of the club’s history.

“I’m hoping to contribute some valuable experience. I’ve played in many major international competitions, so I bring a lot of experience, some adrenaline and a desire to win. I’m also a keeper who enjoys working with others and I’ve played with many great players. Hopefully, I can bring that to Arsenal.

“I saw a lot of the fans at the Arsenal Women’s match and it really made me want to experience Emirates Stadium.

“Even if my surname isn’t easy, I hope they’ll come up with a good chant to remember for the rest of my career! Of course, when the fans chant a song, it always sticks in your head. It’s up to me to perform well and do what’s needed for the club and the fans to earn that special song.

“It’s great to have a balance between experience and youth. I think that as experienced players, we can teach young players how to prepare for a big occasion, like when we play at a packed Emirates Stadium. The young players can bring us energy because they are full of enthusiasm. They don’t overthink things. They play instinctively.”