Arsenal Women confirm first January signing, teen defender arrives

Arsenal Women have confirmed the signing of Smilla Holmberg from Swedish club Hammarby, adding another young talent to their squad ahead of a busy period.

The defender arrives in north London at just 19 years old, but already brings top-level experience from both club and international football.

Holmberg is a full international for Sweden and has already earned nine senior caps for her country. She also featured three times during Euro 2025, showing her ability on the biggest stage.

Her move to Arsenal comes after a very successful spell in Sweden, where she won a league title and two Swedish Cups with Hammarby.

Young defender adds depth to the squad

Holmberg mainly plays as a right back and is expected to strengthen squad depth for head coach Renée Slegers.

Arsenal already have Emily Fox in that position, but the new signing will allow for better rotation as fixtures begin to pile up.

With domestic and European matches coming thick and fast, Holmberg’s arrival should help manage workloads across the squad.

It also gives Fox more chances to rest, which could be vital during the tougher stages of the season.

Despite her young age, Holmberg has shown maturity and calmness in her performances, both for club and country.

From academy prospect to senior regular

Holmberg has spent most of her football life at Hammarby, joining the club when she was just seven years old.

She rose through the academy ranks before making her senior debut in 2022 at only 15 years of age.

From that moment, she quickly became a key part of the first-team setup. Over the course of her time at the club, Holmberg made 96 senior appearances, an impressive figure for a teenager.

She also contributed 10 goals from defence, underlining her ability to support attacks when needed.

Her steady progress earned her regular call-ups to the Swedish national side, where she continues to grow.

Head coach Renée Slegers shared her excitement about the signing, saying: “We’re thrilled to welcome Smilla to the club.

“She’s a very talented young defender who brings versatility and athleticism, with so much potential for development. I’m looking forward to working with her as we aim for more trophies together.”

Holmberg now takes the next step in her career with Arsenal, where she will look to settle quickly and learn from her new surroundings.

The teenager will wear the number 31 shirt as she begins her journey with the Gunners.

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