Arsenal confirm defender will leave club in summer | OneFootball

Arsenal have confirmed that Amanda Ilestedt will leave the club at the end of the season when her contract expires, bringing to an end a brief but significant spell in north London for the Swedish international defender.

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Ilestedt arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain, signing in the wake of a standout FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign where she was instrumental in Sweden’s third-place finish.

Her performances earned her a nomination for both The Best FIFA Women’s Player and the Ballon d’Or, having scored four goals and won the Bronze Ball as one of the tournament’s most unexpected and effective attacking threats from centre-back.

She made her Arsenal debut in September 2023, starting in the 3-0 victory over Linkoping in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Over the course of the season, Ilestedt made 23 appearances and scored three goals.

She played a key role in helping Arsenal lift the League Cup in March 2024, providing defensive assurance and leadership during a transitional period for the squad.

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Before joining Arsenal, Ilestedt had already built a formidable career across Europe. Born in Sölvesborg in 1993, she came through the ranks at Sölvesborgs GIF before joining FC Rosengård, one of Sweden’s most successful clubs. There she won four Damallsvenskan titles and several domestic trophies, earning her a debut for the Swedish national team in 2014.

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She later moved to Turbine Potsdam in the Frauen-Bundesliga, adapting quickly to the demands of the German game. In 2019 she signed for Bayern Munich, winning the league title in the 2020–21 season.

From there, her move to PSG in 2021 offered the chance to compete at the highest level in France and in the Champions League, further refining her leadership qualities.

By the time she arrived at Arsenal, Ilestedt was already one of Europe’s most reliable defenders, combining aerial dominance with technical calm and tactical maturity and will no doubt have plenty of suitors.