Arsenal are expected to be a leading candidate to sign the midfielder this summer after England international Georgia Stanway confirmed she will leave Bayern Munich when her contract expires at the end of the season.
Steinway, 27, is entering the final six months of her contract with Bayern and from January 1 she can sign pre-contract agreements with foreign teams. Although no deal has been signed yet, the north London side have shown keen interest and are capable of fending off other suitors.
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Steinway left Manchester City in 2022 to play overseas and has called Munich home for the past four seasons. In 94 games for Bayern, she won three Bundesliga titles. After 14 games this season, Bayern remains undefeated and tops the standings with a 6-point advantage.
A move to Arsenal saw her return to the Women’s Super League (WSL) seven years after leaving Manchester City. Arsenal also favor the Lioness label from a commercial perspective, with the two-time European Cup winner set to join England internationals Leah Williamson, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Alesia Russo, Michelle Agyeman, Lot Ubben-Moy and Taylor Hines.
“I am very grateful to Bayern Munich for the past few years,” Stanway wrote on social media. “Thankfully, my time here is not over yet. The decision to leave Munich and my team was very difficult and definitely not easy for me.
“I have made lifelong friends and memories here, and I have developed tremendously as a player and as a person. Until my last day I will give everything I have to the success of the club and its sport, as I have done for the past three and a half years. I want to say goodbye to the club and its fans at the end of the season with as many titles as possible.”
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Bayern women’s director Bianca Reich added: “We spoke openly about her (Steinway’s) future and when she told us she now wanted to try new things her reasons were completely understandable. We thank her for the time she spent with us and wish her all the best for the future. But we still have a few months and together we will make them as successful as possible.”
Steinway suffered the first major injury of her career last January, rupturing the lateral collateral ligament in her right knee, ending her domestic campaign. She underwent 70 to 80 “very, very, tough” rehab sessions, and although it was a “battle,” she said she feels fitter, faster and stronger than ever.
The midfielder recovered in time to start every game for England at Euro 2025 and help the team win the tournament for the second consecutive time.
Arsenal are third in the WSL standings, eight points behind leaders Manchester City. Defender Smila Holmberg from Sweden’s Hammarby IF team joined in January, and the team is expected to see a lot of turnover this summer.
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Arsenal have a number of players aged 30 and above, with at least six out of contract, including captain Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Kaitlyn Forde, Katie McCabe, Beth Meade and Manuela Hinsberger. Discussions with Little and Williamson are said to be going well, while Mariona Cardenti and Keira Cooney-Kros have triggered their options to stay at the club until 2027.
On Friday, they announced that head coach Renee Slegers had extended her contract until 2029 and appointed former England international Jodie Taylor as their new technical director.
What can Stanway bring to Arsenal?
From Arsenal’s perspective, Stanway could add some much-needed physicality, toughness and grit to the midfield, qualities their recruitment team are looking for. After Lea Varty left Juventus last summer, Arsenal’s midfield looked unbalanced.
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Steinway is good at acting as a “B2B” engine in the middle of the court.
She can regain possession, run the ball under pressure and initiate attacks, but can also be more defensive-minded if needed, providing balance and support. Her arrival could have a major impact.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Women’s Football, Transfer News
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