Arsenal are leading the race to sign Georgia Stanway after the England midfielder confirmed she will leave FC Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old will be available on a free transfer after deciding not to renew her contract in Munich, despite Bayern pushing to keep her.
Arsenal are understood to be well placed, with the club tracking her situation closely as plans for next season take shape after Renee Slegers‘ contract was extended and Jodie Taylor was appointed as Technical Director.
Stanway moved to Bayern from Manchester City in 2022 and has been a key figure during a highly successful spell in Germany, winning three Bundesliga titles and establishing herself as one of Europe’s most reliable midfielders.
Her departure will bring to a close three-and-a-half years in which she has been a regular starter in both domestic and European competition.
Confirming her decision, Stanway said: “I am incredibly grateful to FC Bayern. And thankfully, my time here isn’t over yet.
“The decision to leave Munich and my team was incredibly difficult and definitely not easy for me.
“I’ve made friends and memories here that will last a lifetime. I’ve also been able to develop enormously as a player and as a person.
“I will give everything for the club and its sporting success until my very last day, just as I have for the past three-and-a-half years.
“And I want to say goodbye to the club and the fans at the end of the season with as many titles as possible.”
Bayern’s director of women’s football Bianca Rech said: “As the first English player at FC Bayern Women, Georgia Stanway not only made history but also stole our hearts.
“We thank her for the time we spent together and wish her all the best for the future.”
Arsenal’s interest reflects the scale of the opportunity. A proven international, with experience of winning titles and competing deep in Europe, Stanway would arrive as a senior addition rather than a player needing to be developed, should a deal be completed once her contract expires.