Arsenal have completed the signing of experienced defender Amanda Ilestedt on a free transfer from PSG, according to a report from BBC Sport.

Ilestedt left the Parisian giants upon the expiration of her contract at the end of the season, allowing the Gunners to swoop in and complete a deal for the Swedish international.

On joining the setup at Arsenal, Ilestedt said: “I’m really excited and happy to be here. My goal is to win titles and this is a great club with great players and fantastic facilities, so I believe this is the right place for me to achieve that.

“There is a real sense of momentum around this club and the support has been wonderful – I can’t wait to walk out onto the pitch in the Arsenal kit.”

What will Amanda Ilestedt add to the Arsenal squad?

A commanding central defender, the acquisition of Ilestedt will bring defensive solidity to Arsenal – she is excellent at holding a line together and making sure that everyone is aware of their roles.

Of course, Arsenal are not short of quality in central defence, thanks to England captain Leah Williamson – however, Williamson suffered an ACL injury towards the end of the 2022/23 WSL campaign. It’s unclear when she will return, but it is likely that she will not be fit enough in time to partake in Arsenal’s first few WSL fixtures in 2023/24.

Due to this, the Gunners will hope that Ilestedt can fulfil Williamson’s role of a vocal centre-back who keeps the rest of the defence in check.

In addition, Ilestedt is no slouch in the technical department, either. She is proficient in picking out her teammates with long passes from deep positions – this will allow the Gunners’ forwards, such as Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, to play off the shoulder more often.

Amanda Ilestedt football career summary so far

Ilestedt made her debut for Karlskrona FF in 2008, before moving to FC Rosengard the following year, with whom she would spend eight years with.

Following this, she was snapped up by Turbine Potsdam, before making the jump to Bayern Munich in 2019. While at Bayern, she established herself as an elite defender – leading to her move to PSG and subsequently Arsenal.