Arsenal are holding talks over a potential summer move for Barcelona defender Ona Batlle, whose contract with the Spanish champions expires at the end of the season.
No agreement has been finalised, but Arsenal remain keen on the versatile full-back, who can operate on either side of the defence. Should the transfer be completed, Batlle would leave Barcelona for the second time and return to the Women’s Super League, where she previously played for Manchester United between 2020 and 2023.
Batlle, 26, rejoined Barcelona from United in 2023 on a deal that runs until June, allowing her to negotiate freely with other clubs. She has featured 19 times this season as Barcelona dominate Liga F, winning 16 of their 17 league matches while pushing for a seventh consecutive title.
A product of Barcelona’s academy, Batlle initially joined the club’s B team in 2014 but departed in 2017 due to limited first-team opportunities. She went on to play for Madrid CFF and later Levante before moving to England. After 77 appearances for United, she returned to Barcelona in 2023.
Since coming back, Batlle has collected major honours, including two Liga F titles, two Copa de la Reina trophies and three Spanish Super Cups. At international level, she has earned 49 caps for Spain and was part of the squad that won the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Arsenal currently sit third in the WSL, 10 points behind leaders Manchester City. During the January window, the club signed defender Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby, extended head coach Renée Slegers’ contract until 2029 and appointed former England striker Jodie Taylor as technical director. The Athletic has also reported that Arsenal are leading the chase to sign England midfielder Georgia Stanway when her Bayern Munich contract expires this summer.
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