Mariona Caldentey: Barcelona forward agrees to join Arsenal as Gunners seek Vivianne Miedema replacement | Football News

Barcelona attacker Mariona Caldentey has agreed to join Arsenal when her current contract expires at the end of June.

The forward announced her Barcelona departure after a decade at the club on Wednesday afternoon.

Caldentey won three Champions League trophies and six Liga F titles, and was part of the Spain squad that won the World Cup last year.

Transfer Centre LIVE! | Paper TalkAll you need to know – Streaming Sky Sports with NOWGet Sky Sports | Download the Sky Sports appThe 28-year-old is fourth in Barcelona Femeni’s all-time list for trophies won, only behind Alexia Putellas (30), Melanie Serrano (29) and Marta Torrejón (28).

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Caldentey (left) won three Champions League trophies and six Liga F titles

Arsenal have been looking to bolster their forward line since announcing that Vivianne Miedema will leave on a free transfer at the end of this month.

Miedema’s decision to leave Arsenal was a mutual one, with the Netherlands international keen for a fresh challenge and the club looking to reinvest in the squad.

The striker, who signed a new deal at Arsenal in May 2022 to make her the then highest-paid WSL player, has scored a record 79 goals in the league since joining the Gunners in 2017.

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Vivianne Miedema will leave Arsenal at the end of this month

There has been interest from clubs across Europe and the National Women’s Soccer League in America, but Manchester City are seen as the favourites for her signature.

The WSL summer window opens on June 24 and runs through to September 13.

When does the 2024/25 WSL season start?

The 2024/25 Women’s Super League season will start on the weekend of September 21 and 22.

The key dates for the top two divisions of women’s football next term have been confirmed, with the Barclays Women’s Championship starting a fortnight earlier on the weekend of September 7 and 8.

The winter break will take place between December 16 and January 18, with the WSL season ending on the weekend of May 10 and May 11, 2025.

The start of the new WSL season comes 42 days after the women’s gold medal final of the Olympic Games campaign.

Team GB failed to qualify for the Paris tournament after England’s unsuccessful Nations League campaign, although the United States, Brazil and France are among the teams to have qualified.

Meanwhile, the 2024/25 Women’s League Cup dates have also been confirmed, with the group stage running from early October until mid-December. The final will be played on the weekend of March 15 and 16, 2025.

Follow the summer transfer window with Sky SportsKeep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.