Arsenal midfielder Lia Wälti has confirmed her departure from the club, joining Juventus on transfer deadline day.
Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images
On Thursday morning, the official social media accounts of the Arsenal Women confirmed that Lia Wälti is leaving the club on deadline day.
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“This is, without any doubt, one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to take in my life to leave this football club,” Wälti said in a video message to the fans.
“I’m just really thankful because I think I made relationships for life and I will definitely be back here because there are a lot of people I still want to see, but Arsenal always allowed me to be the person I am.
“I’m really sad to leave but it means it has been a place where I was really, really happy. It’s important that you leave your heart on the pitch and that’s what I tried every time I stepped on that pitch with that shirt.
“Thank you to the fans, you made us feel unstoppable and thanks to everybody who supported me on that journey and thanks for everything, Arsenal.”
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Wälti is set to join Juventus Women, with the club hinting at the imminent announcement this morning. At the time of writing, they still haven’t officially confirmed the transfer.
The midfielder’s departure does leave Arsenal a little short in midfield, despite the fact that Wälti’s minutes had decreased over the last couple of seasons.
The expectation is that the Gunners will have to make a signing or two over the next couple of transfer windows, assuming they haven’t got one lined up for a last-minute deadline-day addition.
Arsenal held interest in Geraldine Reuteler, but Tim Stillman reports that Frankfurt don’t want to sell.
Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images
Wälti leaves after seven years with Arsenal, bowing out with a Champions League win earlier this year.
“One of my biggest dreams was always to win the Champions League,” Wälti said. “My biggest dream was to win it with Arsenal and it finally happened. Now, it was my last game at Arsenal so I think it couldn’t end any better.”
