Arsenal hail signing of ‘winner’ Ona Batlle after Barcelona summer exodus

Arsenal Women have confirmed the free-transfer signing of Spain full-back Ona Batlle following her departure from Barcelona, marking their fourth acquisition of a busy summer window. The 27-year-old, who can play at either right-back or left-back, joins a club that is understood to have prioritised concluding much of its transfer business early, having already brought in Georgia Stanway, Selina Cerci and Geraldine Reuteler on free transfers from the Bundesliga.

Batlle is one of four Spain internationals to leave the Champions League winners on free transfers this summer, alongside Alexia Putellas and Mapi León (both linked with London City Lionesses) and Salma Paralluelo. During her three-year second spell at Barcelona, where she began her career in the academy, she made 114 appearances, scored 14 goals and won 11 trophies, including three league titles and two Champions Leagues. A World Cup winner with Spain in 2023 and a Euro 2025 finalist, she was praised by head coach Renée Slegers as "a winner" with strong attacking intent, while Batlle said she joined one of the biggest clubs in the world to win trophies.