Spanish international defender Laia Codina, recently crowned world champion, has joined Arsenal’s women’s team from FC Barcelona, the London club announced on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old central defender has seven caps for Spain, with whom she won the World Cup this month in Sydney. Confined to the bench at the start of the competition, she was then established in the four knockout matches of La Roja, until the final coronation against England (1-0).
“Laia is a world-class defender and I am delighted to work with her at Arsenal,” Gunners coach Jonas Eidevall said in a statement posted on the club’s website. “I knew the history of this club, so when I heard that Arsenal were interested, I didn’t think twice,” said the player. Codina, trained at FC Barcelona, where she arrived at the age of 14, played 34 matches for the first team, winning three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.