Arsenal have signed German forward Selina Cerci, with BBC Sport understanding the 26-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with an option for a further 12 months. The move brings an end to a career spent entirely in the Frauen-Bundesliga, with Cerci having never previously played outside Germany.
Cerci arrives from Hoffenheim, where she scored 34 goals in 47 appearances and helped the club to a fourth-placed finish in 2025-26. She twice finished second in the top scorers’ rankings with 16 goals, and last season added nine assists — joint-second most in the division alongside new Arsenal team-mate Georgia Stanway, then of Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old also carries 20 international caps and five goals for her country.
Her signing comes after Beth Mead’s departure to WSL champions Manchester City. Mead, 31, had spent nine seasons at Arsenal but was injured for much of last season, contributing just two league goals before her release. Arsenal were the second-highest scorers in the WSL in 2025-26, behind Manchester City, though their title challenge faltered amid fixture congestion late in the season.
Cerci’s path to Arsenal was not without setbacks. After prolific spells at Werder Bremen and Turbine Potsdam, she suffered a cruciate ligament injury in March 2022 that ruled her out of the Women’s Euros that year and the Women’s World Cup 12 months later. A move to FC Koln followed before she joined Hoffenheim, where she rediscovered her best form. She has acknowledged the step up, saying she is excited about “stepping out of my comfort zone” and that this will be her first experience of Champions League football.
Arsenal director of women’s football Clare Wheatley described Cerci as “an instinctive goalscorer with a proven record in the Bundesliga” who is “in a strong position to transition to English football.” Head coach Renee Slegers added that Cerci’s “impressive goalscoring numbers” combined with her “physicality, forward intent and strong work ethic” make her a welcome addition. Cerci herself left no doubt over her desire to make the move, stating: “It didn’t matter which other clubs were interested in me — I wanted to play for Arsenal.”
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
